Jos Verstappen continues his battle against Horner: “It feels like being in kindergarten. I’m done with him. And don’t rule out Mercedes in Max’s future.”
The tensions within Red Bull are far from settled. It all started with the Horner Gate and has since continued with various unresolved issues. Now, Jos Verstappen has expressed strong criticisms of Christian Horner, revealing that he has completely severed ties with the Red Bull team principal. The fallout seems to have originated after Horner excluded Verstappen Sr. from the Legends Parade, an event that entertains the public during the Austrian GP weekend since 2014.
In a statement released by the Red Bull Ring on June 13, Jos Verstappen was initially included among the drivers set to participate in the parade. However, it appears Horner decided to exclude him—a decision that did not sit well with Max Verstappen’s father. In an interview with Viaplay, Jos revealed that Horner made a “tasteless joke,” telling him to “watch out if the car would brake.” This comment, understandably, only fueled Jos’s anger.
Jos Verstappen’s Words
Speaking to De Telegraaf, Jos Verstappen said: “In recent days, I have heard from multiple sources that Christian Horner did everything to prevent me from driving, ensuring nothing was signed. So I thought: why didn’t they tell me to my face? It shouldn’t be this way, I find it very disappointing.”. The former F1 driver added in an interview with formel1.nl: “There were supposed to be recordings, even with a drone. But Horner wanted me not to be filmed. Can you be more childish than that? I’m completely done with him! It feels like being in kindergarten.. I could have driven on the track, but I refused. I find the whole incident very childish and I think it says a lot about Horner’s behavior.”
Max, Whose Side Are You On? Jos Stirs the Market
Issues only off the track? Not quite: the tension between Horner and Jos could also impact Max Verstappen’s future. Despite Max recently confirming that he will stay with Red Bull until 2025, Jos does not rule out a possible move to Mercedes in 2025 or 2026, in light of the regulatory changes. Speaking to Sky Deutschland, Jos emphasized that the deteriorated relationship with Horner could facilitate a switch to Toto Wolff’s team, which would be eager to welcome the world champion.
Max Verstappen has always highlighted the importance of support from his father, his manager, and Helmut Marko in his career. Regarding Horner, Jos concluded: “There are many things at stake that concern him, but I don’t want to say anything more about it.” When asked “if a move to Mercedes for Max is not out of the question”, Jos responded bluntly: “Exactly, it is not out of the question.”
Photo: Oracle Red Bull Racing
