Max Verstappen believes that his father Jos and Red Bull boss Christian Horner can resolve their differences that have sparked rumors about his future in Formula 1.
Horner had been the subject of an extensive investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct towards a colleague but was cleared of the accusations last week.
However, after the Bahrain Grand Prix, Jos Verstappen made headlines by suggesting that Red Bull could face turmoil if Horner remained in charge of the team.
This has led to speculation that Verstappen might leave Red Bull unless Horner departs, with Mercedes being considered as a possible option as they look to fill Lewis Hamilton’s seat in 2025.
“Well, I don’t really know because I’m just the driver and I’m not privy to the higher-level discussions,” Verstappen commented when asked about his father’s recent statements.
“But from my perspective, as a driver, I’m contracted to focus solely on my performance, and that’s what I’ll be doing this weekend. Ideally, everyone involved would like to put the events in Bahrain behind us and have a more peaceful weekend here.”
When asked if he agreed with his father’s belief that Red Bull could fall apart, Verstappen responded, “I don’t know, I mean, I hope not. It’s a strong company and a strong team with many capable members, so I don’t think it should happen.”
Verstappen acknowledges that some people might interpret his father’s views as his own due to their close relationship.
“Yeah, I understand that. My dad and I are very close, we talk every day even when he’s not around,” he explained.
“But on the other hand, I’m not usually the type of person who likes to talk a lot about certain things. I prefer to focus on my driving, and if there are any issues, we always try to resolve them within the team.”
However, Verstappen has refuted the claim that his father is a “deceiver” and is frustrated that the conversation has not centered around Red Bull’s dominant start to the 2024 F1 season.
When asked if Jos had any regrets about his sudden outburst, Max responded, “I haven’t inquired about that, but based on what I know of my dad, which goes back to my time in go-karts, he has always been very outspoken and he is certainly not a liar.
“From my perspective, that is what I can attest to, but I believe it is crucial for the team as a whole that we can finally focus on the outstanding performance of our exceptional car. It seems that this aspect has not received much attention in recent days.”
Despite uncertainties surrounding Horner and Verstappen’s future roles, the Dutch driver remains optimistic that his father and team principal can resolve their recent dispute.
“In my opinion, regardless of whether there are arguments or not, there are always opportunities to find common ground. I believe that everyone involved is mature and respectful enough to one another to work through any issues,” he affirmed.
“Sometimes, I don’t necessarily agree with everything that occurs. This isn’t specifically about recent events, but rather a general observation about Formula 1. That’s why it’s important to have discussions.
“At times, we may agree to disagree, which is a natural part of any relationship. That’s just how things unfold.”
Verstappen also suspects that his father’s words have been misconstrued to imply hidden motives behind his decision to publicly criticize Horner.
“The problem is that people will start fabricating stories or speculating, assuming they know the reasons behind his statements,” he remarked.
“However, at the end of the day, he is the only one who truly knows. That’s what social media is for, right? It’s a platform for speculation and fabrication. Unfortunately, there isn’t much I can do about that.”