Jos Verstappen, aged 52, has taken a stand against Christian Horner, the boss of Red Bull, and expressed his concerns at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix last week. Verstappen stated that if Horner remained in charge, the dominant team could face significant internal conflicts. These comments followed an investigation by an independent barrister, which cleared Horner of any misconduct allegations made by a female employee. Verstappen’s remarks have sparked fears that the star driver may consider other options for the 2025 season.
Mercedes, the former champions, currently have an opening due to Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time F1 world champion, signing with Ferrari for the 2025 season. This unexpected move has surprised many within the F1 community. Speaking to reporters in Jeddah, Verstappen referred to this surprising transfer and emphasized that life, both on and off the track, is unpredictable. He stated that one can never fully anticipate the events that may occur or the factors that may influence one’s decisions.
Despite the speculation surrounding his future, Verstappen remains calm and content with his current team. He expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance and sees no reason to leave. This weekend, Verstappen aims to make up for his defeat by his Red Bull Racing teammate Sergio Perez during last year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. He emphasized that his primary focus is on driving and believes that this should be the team’s main priority. Verstappen believes that ongoing distractions and controversies are detrimental to the team’s success.
When asked if there are any circumstances in which he may not race for Red Bull next year, Verstappen replied that it would require extreme and unlikely circumstances. He stated that such a scenario is not the goal for anyone involved.
Last season, Red Bull achieved an outstanding record, winning 21 out of 22 races with the most dominant car in F1 history. Verstappen, who claimed 19 of these victories, began the current campaign with a remarkable achievement, securing pole position, fastest lap, and leading every lap of the race.
Verstappen emphasized that his father, a former F1 racer who was once a teammate of Michael Schumacher, is an honest and outspoken individual. He revealed that he maintains a close relationship with his father and they communicate daily. However, Verstappen did not inquire whether his father regretted making the controversial comments.
Recent reports in various media outlets have suggested that Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, was seen in a lengthy meeting with Toto Wolff, the team boss of Mercedes F1. This has led to speculation that Max Verstappen could potentially join Mercedes to replace Lewis Hamilton, who is set to join Ferrari.