Max Verstappen emerged as the victor in the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking the beginning of his pursuit for a historic fourth world championship. However, the race was overshadowed by a significant controversy. The investigation into the team principal of Red Bull has sparked intense debate during this silly season, with the lack of transparency and the subsequent not-guilty verdict causing further complications.
Shortly after Red Bull announced that Horner’s complaint had been dismissed following an internal investigation, an anonymous email containing alleged messages from Horner was leaked. While Christian Horner has remained silent on the leaked images, Jos Verstappen, Max Verstappen’s father, recently shared his thoughts on the Christian Horner saga.
The 51-year-old revealed that tension already exists within the team and could potentially lead to its disintegration. Jos Verstappen also expressed his belief that the team should not continue in this direction, accusing Horner of playing the victim. These issues have consequently created various problems within the Red Bull paddock. In response, Red Bull has maintained that there is no division within the team and that they remain focused on racing.
Ford will take over from Honda as the engine supplier for Red Bull starting in 2026. Max Verstappen, who will continue to occupy the Red Bull seat, is now faced with numerous uncertainties. Speculation suggests that Verstappen may explore opportunities outside of Red Bull, despite having a contract until 2028. The ongoing investigation surrounding Christian Horner and the perceived lack of team discipline have been cited by Jos Verstappen as potential factors influencing this decision. It is rumored that Mercedes is among the teams Verstappen is considering.
Helmut Marko, an advisor for Red Bull Motorsport, Max Verstappen, and Jos Verstappen all hold differing opinions on how this situation should be handled. Red Bull’s key corporate partners include Ford and Oracle, although their stance on the matter remains unclear. With so much happening within the Red Bull paddock, the team’s image and Max Verstappen’s reputation could be at stake. Nevertheless, Verstappen maintains that Red Bull is his home, and his contract will expire at the end of the 2028 season.
This situation indicates that it is not yet the right time for Max Verstappen to join Mercedes. When Verstappen was in the junior ranks, Mercedes expressed interest in him. However, Red Bull ultimately secured his position in Formula 1 as Mercedes was unable to provide him with a seat at that time. This suggests that Mercedes may have considered signing Verstappen. However, in the current circumstances, it seems unlikely that he will make the move to Mercedes.