Verstappen Snr accuses Christian Horner of ‘glossing over’ Red Bull’s serious problems – A brewing feud between Jos Verstappen, father of Red Bull Racing star driver Max Verstappen, and team principal Christian Horner has escalated ahead of the 2024 Formula One season. As tensions rise over Red Bull’s performance issues, the spat could cast doubt on the world champion’s future with the team, despite the tremendous success they’ve enjoyed together so far.
Horner’s Red Bull team has played a pivotal role in Max Verstappen’s rise to become a three-time world champion at the age of 27. At the wheel of the all-conquering RB19, Max won an astonishing 19 of 22 races in 2023, setting a new F1 record.
However, despite another strong campaign in 2024, there are serious concerns within the Verstappen camp and Jos has not hesitated to voice them.
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Verstappen’s remarkable journey with Red Bull
Max Verstappen’s partnership with Red Bull has been one of the most successful stories in recent F1 history. Over the years, the team has provided him with a race-winning car, culminating in three consecutive world championships. The RB19, Red Bull’s 2023 challenger, has been a dominant force in the sport, setting the stage for Verstappen’s remarkable campaign.
At the end of the 2024 season, Verstappen still leads the championship, 52 points clear of McLaren’s Lando Norris with six races (and three sprints) to go. On the surface, Verstappen’s dominance looks set to continue, but this season has been anything but smooth sailing for Red Bull.
Despite leading the championship, the team has been plagued by underwhelming performances in the second half of the season. Red Bull started the year with a blistering pace, winning seven of the first ten races.
But a mid-season slump, coupled with various technical missteps, has now seen them go eight races without a win, raising concerns about the team’s development strategy.
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Jos Verstappen’s concerns about Red Bull’s decline
Jos Verstappen, a former F1 driver himself, has been outspoken about his concerns over Red Bull’s performance. His growing frustration with Horner and the direction of the team was particularly evident after the Austrian Grand Prix, where tensions between the two came to a head.
One of the more notable moments of tension came when Horner reportedly blocked Jos Verstappen from taking part in the Legends’ Parade, where he was due to drive Sebastian Vettel’s 2012 title-winning RB8. Shortly afterwards, Jos was spotted visiting the Mercedes hospitality unit, further fuelling speculation of a possible rift between the Verstappen camp and Red Bull.
There is growing speculation that Mercedes and Aston Martin are closely monitoring the situation. Both teams are seen as potential suitors for Max Verstappen should his frustrations lead him to consider leaving Red Bull.
Notably, Max has a potential release clause in his contract which he could activate next year ahead of the major rule changes scheduled for 2026.
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Verstappen slams Horner over senior staff departures
A major source of concern for Jos Verstappen has been the departure of key Red Bull personnel, particularly the loss of legendary designer Adrian Newey. At the start of the season, Jos warned that Red Bull would “fall apart” without Newey’s influence. Since Newey’s resignation, Red Bull’s on-track performance has declined significantly, although it’s uncertain whether his departure is the cause of the downturn.
Newey’s departure was followed by the resignation of sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, who will join Audi’s F1 project from 2025. Adding to the turmoil, Red Bull’s head of strategy, Will Courtenay, has agreed to join main rivals McLaren. These exits have added to the growing uncertainty surrounding Red Bull’s future competitiveness, and Jos Verstappen has been vocal about his frustration with Horner’s response to these losses.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Jos suggested that Horner has failed to adequately address the significance of these departures.
“He always glosses over it,” said Jos, referring to Horner’s handling of the situation in the media.
Horner, for his part, has attempted to play down the impact of the departures, stating that Red Bull will fill the vacancies by promoting from within, rather than seeking external hires. Max Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, is expected to take on additional responsibilities to fill the gap left by Wheatley’s departure. However, doubts remain as to whether these internal promotions will be enough to maintain Red Bull’s competitive edge.
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What Red Bull must do to keep Max Verstappen
The ongoing feud between Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner raises questions about Max Verstappen’s long-term future with the team. While Max has not publicly addressed the speculation in detail, it is clear that his father’s concerns have cast a shadow over Red Bull’s prospects.
Max’s main concern, according to insiders, is the performance of the car. Throughout the second half of the season, he has repeatedly voiced his displeasure with the RB20’s handling and the team’s lack of straight-line speed. With Red Bull struggling to compete at the same level as McLaren and Ferrari, Max’s patience may be wearing thin.
In the fiercely competitive world of Formula One, Red Bull will need to act quickly to address these issues if they are to convince their star driver to stay. Winning races again will be key, but Red Bull must also ensure that the technical team is strong enough to deliver a competitive car year after year.
The upcoming rule changes in 2026 are another critical factor. With a potential buy-out clause in his contract, Max could decide to explore other options if Red Bull cannot convince him that they will be competitive under the new rules. Mercedes and Aston Martin, two of Red Bull’s biggest rivals, are reportedly ready to make room for Verstappen should he decide to leave.
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Potential landing spots: Mercedes and Aston Martin
Should Max Verstappen decide to activate his release clause, several teams would undoubtedly be keen to sign him. Mercedes, despite their current driver line-up, may be willing to make changes to accommodate the Dutchman. Both George Russell and rising star Kimi Antonelli have performed well for the team, but the opportunity to sign Verstappen could lead to a reshuffle.
Aston Martin is another possibility, although the team would face its own complications. Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who has been a key figure in the team’s resurgence, would be difficult to replace. Team owner Lawrence Stroll would also have to consider the future of his son Lance, who currently drives for the team.
Nevertheless, Verstappen’s exceptional talent makes him an attractive option for any team, and Aston Martin would likely explore the possibility of signing him if the opportunity arose.
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The future remains uncertain
As the 2024 F1 season draws to a close, the tension between Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner underlines the uncertainty surrounding Red Bull’s future. Despite Max’s commanding lead in the championship, the team faces serious challenges both on and off the track. If Red Bull fail to address these issues, they risk losing one of the sport’s most talented drivers.
For now, Max Verstappen’s focus remains on securing another world championship. But as the 2025 season approaches, all eyes will be on Red Bull’s ability to regain their competitive edge and keep their star driver happy. If they fail to do so, the Verstappen-Horner feud could have lasting consequences for the team’s dominance in F1.
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Red Bull have been hammered by most writers and fans in the Formula One world for their handling of Daniel Ricciardo’s departure. Ricciardo claimed on Thursday before the race in Singapore he believed there would be big decisions made on the team’s 2025 lineup.
Yet his demeanour after coming last but with the token fastest lap, was of that of a man who knew he’d raced his last time in F1. Dr. Helmut Marko admitted Ricciardo was told before the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday that he would be replaced by Liam Lawson come the next outing in Austin, Texas.
The world championship winning F1 team appear to be in a muddle of the future of their drivers and even Max Verstappen has been rumoured to be looking elsewhere for 2026. Sergio Perez was awarded another one year deal earlier this season, but his performances since have been the worst amongst the eight drivers for the…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
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Jos Verstappen should be banned from the Red Bull paddock. Shit stirrer