Max Verstappen Backed Christian Horner Days Before Red Bull Sacking
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen backed former boss Christian Horner before he got sacked by the higher-ups at the racing team.
Horner was removed from his powerful position within Red Bull last week - a move which has sent ripple effects all over the grid.
He served 20 years at Red Bull and helped bring the mega-talented Verstappen to Formula 1.
Under Horner's leadership, the team provided the talent with a fantastic car over the years and allowed him to realize his dream of winning titles.
Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit...
Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on May 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. More
Photo byVerstappen has won four consecutive drivers' championships since 2021, but the streak will end this season unless there is a historic comeback from the Dutch driver.
This season, the RB21 is not the top car, and Verstappen is almost out of the title race.
The team's recent poor form, coupled with Horner's reported internal power struggle, has been a significant factor.
Initial reports after the firing claim that the Verstappen camp wanted Horner out and leveraged their possible exit to have him removed.
That chain of events is doubtful since Verstappen backed Horner in the media days before the firing.
"It is always easy to say when things are going well, you say: 'Oh, the management is working,'" Verstappen told the media.
"If you asked the question back in 2023, what is the best way, you would say: 'Red Bull is doing great, so everything is working well.
"So it is easy [to blame the management], but it is something I don't think is negative.
"The balance issues this year have been a bit better, but in some areas we are a little bit weak, and in low-speed corners, we are not that good.
"Particularly in the medium speed, that is where McLaren is really strong and we are not able to match that."
With Horner removed from the picture, Verstappen's future remains muddled as the driver weighs his future.
Mercedes is highly interested in the Dutch driver, as is Aston Martin, but the final decision lies with Verstappen.
The buzz from the paddock indicates that the Mercedes powertrain is projected to be the strongest next season in the new regulations.
Verstappen can take as long as he wants in making his decision, but with a drastic change to the regulations, his next decision will be pivotal for the upcoming season.
More F1 news: How Lewis Hamilton Made the F1 Movie Production More Expensive
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