
The truth about how the plot to sack Christian Horner unfolded as JONATHAN MCEVOY goes inside the Red Bull camp at the first Grand Prix since team principal's brutal dismissal
Michael Schumacher was the defending champion 20 years ago when the little-known Englishman, then 31, started on his masterpiece of 14 world titles. He never missed a race until he was sacked after the British Grand Prix earlier this month, the background to which Mail Sport can reveal more details on Friday.

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Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Jos Verstappen squirms after being hit with awkward Christian Horner question as father of Red Bull star Max is grilled on rift with ex-team boss following his Formula One sacking
Jos Verstappen was left squirming on live television as former world champion Nico Rosberg confronted him with his past comments about Christian Horner. Horner was dismissed as team principal and CEO of Red Bull earlier this month after 20 years with the team, having overseen their transformation from upstart on the grid to winner of six constructors' championships and eight drivers' championships. Although his sacking came over a year after the former team principal was engulfed in a high-profile investigation, Horner's dismissal was said to be purely performance-related. In February last year, the 51-year-old was accused of sexual harassment and coercive and controlling behaviour by a female employee. He was twice cleared, initially after an internal investigation conducted by a lawyer, and then by another lawyer who dismissed the female employee's appeal. Around the time, Jos - influential father of Red Bull's reigning world champion Max Verstappen - called for Horner's exit. MailOnline reported that Jos was spending time with the woman at the heart of the sexting scandal, and that the controversy 'caused even more difficulties' in his and Horner's already-fragile relationship. Jos Verstappen on Christian Horner's Red Bull exit 🗣️ — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) July 27, 2025 The two warring F1 giants 'never really saw eye to eye in the first place'. But Jos has now downplayed any alleged tensions he had with Horner. Being interviewed on the grid ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Sky Sports reporter Martin Brundle asked Jos: 'Big changes in the team. Are you and Max and everybody happy with where it's going so far?' Jos issued a diplomatic response. 'Well, they decided to change so I'm fine with everything, so as long as it works,' he said. Rosberg then reminded Jos of his public call last year for Horner to step down. The former Mercedes driver said: 'Last year, you said: "Horner needs to go because he's going to destroy the team".' Jos tried to brush it off, replying: 'That was a year ago. It's different. I have nothing to say. It's fine.' But Rosberg pressed again, 'Now you're quiet? You're quiet now?' to which Jos responded: 'I'm always quiet.' Throughout the scandal, Max's loyalty remained with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, the man who discovered and backed him as a teenager. Jos was spending time with the woman at the heart of the sexting scandal, and the controversy 'caused even more difficulties' in his and Horner's relationship When Marko threatened to quit during a power struggle between himself and Horner in early 2024, Max made his stance clear. From then onwards, Horner's position at the team was precarious. It is understood that Horner's expanding grip on power within the Red Bull structure, including control over marketing, technical, and engine departments, had caused friction at the top. Max, who has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, has been persistently linked with a shock switch to Mercedes. But the four-time champion insisted Horner's exit will have no bearing on his Formula One future. The Dutchman said: 'No, it doesn't really. Now, I think people can have a difference of opinion here and then... I don't think it will matter at all for my decision in the future. 'And yet, the only thing that matters is that we work on the car and make it as fast as we can make it, really.'


Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Marcus Rashford gets into the action on Barcelona debut as he comes on at half time – but gets subbed after 33 minutes
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MARCUS Rashford gets into the action on his Barcelona debut yesterday — after coming out at half-time for just 33 minutes. The Three Lions striker, on a season-long loan from Man Utd, became the first Englishman to play for the Spanish giants since Gary Lineker between 1986 and 1989. 3 Marcus Rashford takes a shot at goal on his Barcelona debut 3 The Three Lions striker is on a season-long loan from Man Utd Credit: Getty 3 He is the first Englishman to play for the Spanish giants since Gary Lineker Credit: Getty Legend Lineker said: 'I expect Marcus will do well.' Rashford, 27, helped Barca to a 3-1 victory in a friendly in Japan against local team Vissel Kobe. We recently revealed how Rashford has has rekindled his relationship with former fiancée Lucia Loi. She was with him when he signed for FC Barcelona. The Three Lions ace, 27, and childhood sweetheart Lucia, 26, were together during a photoshoot before he was unveiled as the Catalan giants' latest signing at the Camp Nou stadium. She took his photo, then moved behind him to take another and seemingly checked his shirt before the Man United exile posed beside a traditional red British phone box. Rashford was later seen emerging from the kiosk in a post on FC Barcelona's social media, captioned: 'Hello? Barca? For sure, I'm coming.' The Sun understands that Rashford has asked calming influence Lucia, who works in PR, to help him settle in to life in Spain so he can focus on his football. But they were not seen together until they were unwittingly snapped preparing for his phone box stunt. A source said the pair have stayed close, despite their 2022 engagement fizzling out, and have grown close again of late.

South Wales Argus
10 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Ben Stokes willing to ‘run through a brick wall' to face India in Test decider
The England captain struggled with cramp in his left leg and general soreness, while more fitness issues emerged on the last day of the drawn fourth Test as he was clearly discomforted by his upper right arm. Stokes revealed he had hurt his bicep tendon, with his injury niggles the result of a taxing workload that has seen him already send down 140 overs in four Tests – the most he has ever bowled in a series. Making. Things. Happen. Ben Stokes gets one to jag back, stay low and KL Rahul is gone for 90. 🇮🇳 1️⃣8️⃣8️⃣-3️⃣ — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 27, 2025 However, Stokes, the leading wicket-taker of the series with 17 at an average of 25.2, is optimistic of taking to the field at the Kia Oval on Thursday as England try to seal a 3-1 series triumph. 'Hopefully I will be alright going for the last one,' he said. 'I am doing everything possible to be alright. It's been a big five or six weeks, I'll always try to give everything I possibly can. 'It's just a workload sort of thing. We got a fair amount of overs and everything starts creeping up on you. I'll keep trying, keep going and as I say to all the bowlers: pain is just an emotion. 'I'll always try to run through a brick wall for the team. Bowling, being out on the field it is tough work. I'm feeling pretty sore. I've physically been better. 'I don't want to eat my words but the likelihood I won't play (at the Oval) is very unlikely.' Stokes was magnificent at Emirates Old Trafford, where he became the fourth Englishman to record a five-wicket haul and a century in the same match – after Tony Greig, Lord Botham and Gus Atkinson. India slipped to nought for two when they had yet to eat into a 311-run first-innings deficit but KL Rahul and Shubman Gill led the tourists into calmer waters with a 188-run partnership. Stokes, having not bowled on Saturday, struck to have Rahul lbw for 90 during an eight-over burst on Sunday morning and hopes were high when Jofra Archer prised out Gill for 103 on the stroke of lunch. However, Joe Root's drop of Ravindra Jadeja from the next ball proved costly as the India all-rounder and fellow left-hander Washington Sundar batted out the rest of the day, making twin unbeaten hundreds. 'When the reality (hits) with where the game drifted towards, there is obviously going to be that comedown,' Stokes said. 'You can get the vibe that we've thrown everything and not been able to get over the line, there is that sense of disappointment and almost heartbreak – me being a captain, I was as well.' Ben Stokes and England were frustrated by India (Martin Rickett/PA) However, Stokes is well aware they cannot dwell on this result for too long as he added: 'I've got to be that upbeat person as well.' There were farcical scenes as the game drifted towards a conclusion in Manchester, where Sundar and Jadeja refused to shake hands with 15 overs to go – the earliest a draw could be agreed. The pair had batted out the final two sessions to ensure India would avoid defeat but on 80 and 89 respectively, Sundar and Jadeja carried on to rubber-stamp their fine performances with hundreds. England's frustration was palpable and Stokes brought on Harry Brook for some buffet bowling to speed things along, with Jadeja getting to three figures first before Sundar followed for his first Test ton. 'I did have to tell Harry Brook 'please don't do anything stupid – I can't have you pulling a side',' Stokes said. 'I wasn't going to risk any of my proper bowling options. England ended up bowling Harry Brook (Martin Rickett/PA) 'They played incredibly well. I don't think there would have been much more satisfaction in walking off 100 not out, getting your team off in a tricky situation, than walking off at 80 or 90 not out.' 'Scoring 10 more runs isn't going to change the fact you've got your team out of a very, very tricky situation and saved your team from a series defeat.'