‘Difficult' Christian Horner had row with Verstappen's dad at British GP just days before sack, claims Ralf Schumacher
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Christian Horner was allegedly involved in a heated exchange with Jos Verstappen during the British Grand Prix
Credit: Getty
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The pair have clashed several times in recent years
Credit: Getty
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The claim comes from Ralf Schumacher
Credit: Getty
Cracks had been starting to appear in the team's
Horner and Jos Verstappen - former F1 racer and father of star driver
Last season, at the season-opening
There has been little indication of them kissing and making up, with 53-year-old Verstappen Sr saying he was "completely finished" with Horner in August.
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And the tension apparently spilt over into another heated exchange at Silverstone at the weekend.
Speaking to the Boxengasse-podcast, he said: "There was another argument or a heated exchange, at least visually and verbally between Jos Verstappen, Christian Horner and the press officer.
"You could see that Jos was anything but happy with the situation."
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SunSport has attempted to contact Red Bull and Christian Horner for comment.
Schumacher, 50, added: "But I understand it too. For me, Christian Horner is also a bit of a difficult person.
Watch moment Christian Horner & Max Verstappen's dad Jos have 'heated' exchange as team 'torn apart' by sext row
"I have to say that. He just failed to keep the team together well, which is not always easy, of course.
"But I also think his behaviour now, I can only refer to myself, but he can't really deal with criticism."
Schumacher also said Horner refuses to speak to the German branch of Sky Sports.
He said: "We are, or I am, now, on a so-called black list, so he no longer talks to us or with me and such.
"It's actually a joke, because a man who has won so much should actually be able to discuss it in front of the camera,'
The decision to sack Horner comes a year and a half after
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Despite keeping his job in the aftermath of the chaos, Red Bull have slumped down both the Drivers' and Constructors' standings, with Verstappen reportedly eyeing a move to huge rivals Mercedes.
The Dutch driver, 27, struck gold with pole position on Saturday before he suffered a disastrous spin during a safety car restart in Sunday's chaotic race.
But the achievement was arguably trumped by
Laurent Mekies has been appointed as the new CEO of
Red Bull Racing
, stepping up from the Racing Bulls team
, following Horner's departure.
The next F1 race will commence on July 27 with the Belgian Grand Prix.
Verstappen sits third in the drivers' championship, scoring 165 of Red Bull's total tally of 172, which sees them currently in fourth place in the Constructors' Championship.
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