Max Verstappen says he doesn’t expect the decision of Red Bull to get rid of Christian Horner to influence whether he will quit the team, as he reveals the sacking is part of the Formula 1 world.
After delivering eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ titles since he took over the team in 2005, the 52-year-old Brit was finally let go from his post on July 9 and replaced by Laurent Mekies from Racing Bulls.
It marked another a shocking twist in an apparent power struggle behind-closed-doors since the death of the company owner in late 2022, which threaten to tear the time apart at the beginning of 2024.
Horner, surrounded by a sexual misconduct scandal, found himself seemingly at war with Helmut Marko and Jos Verstappen; and although they managed to steady the ship enough to allow Max to win his fourth title, the boat was still rocking.
Red Bull had lost their dominance pace from 2023 and found themselves stuck with a challenging car that was now slower than McLaren, who won the constructors’ title at the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP.
Key personnel, such as Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley, also left as things lurched from bad to worse. This was not corrected by 2025, despite a winter off, as problems with the RB21 persisted.
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That has left their star driver stuck out of contention for a title whilst his team are fourth place, behind McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes. And with rumours linking the Dutchman to departing, it seemed as though that was enough for the higher-ups to pull the plug on the team boss.
So, what does this mean for four-time world champion and his future in the sport? Ultimately Verstappen reveals the Horner sacking doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to quit Red Bull ahead of the upcoming 2026 F1 regulations change.
“No, it doesn’t really,” Verstappen said. “I think people can have a difference of opinion here and then, and I actually expect that to happen because if everyone always agrees [then] there is a problem.
“You need to have difference of opinions. I don’t think it will matter at all for my decision in the future, and the only thing that matters is that we work on the car and make it as fast as we can.
“The last one and a half years have not been what we want to be. Now we try and be more competitive this year a little bit, but for sure also with the new regulations.”
Verstappen sends Horner heart-warming message amid Red Bull sacking
Horner has been an ever-present during Verstappen’s journey through F1 from upcoming prospect in 2015 to the most dominant man in the history of the sport in 2023, when he reached the pinnacle of his powers.
Now the Dutchman prepares to continue his career without his mentor of around a decade, but celebrates their moments together and reveals that although Horner isn’t around now, their relationship won’t change.
“At the same time, you look back at those 20 years of Red Bull, I think we’ve had a lot of great years, great results,” Verstappen continued. “Now, naturally of course there are also years where it’s not going that well.
“And I think the last one and a half years have not gone how we would have liked. And management decided they wanted to steer the ship in a different direction, probably. And then everyone else has to anyway agree to that and look forward.”
Verstappen added: “I’m excited for the team now moving forward because that’s what we have to do. Looking back doesn’t make sense. But at the same time, you do appreciate those 20 years.
“The relationship between myself and Christian, for example, that doesn’t change. Of course, he’s not here now during a race weekend, but he’s still like a second family to me.”
