Latest news with #JosVerstappen
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Automotive
- 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.'
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Awkward': Fans in disbelief as Nico Rosberg gatecrashes Jos Verstappen gridwalk interview
Both F1 legend Nico Rosberg and fans watching at home were left speechless after Nico Rosberg hijacked Martin Brundle's gridwalk ahead of Sunday's Belgium Grand Prix. Verstappen was cornered by Sky Sports' Brundle before Rosberg jumped in and grilled the former F1 driver on the sacking of Red Bull tea principal Christian Horner – who after 20 years at the helm was replaced by Laurent Mekies. Horner was axed earlier this month following a string of woeful results and major unrest at the team. It also came amid rumoured friction between Horner and Max Verstappen's dad Jos. And on Sunday, Jos found himself on the end of an inquisition from Rosberg and Brundle. Brundle asked: 'Big changes in the team. Are you and Max and everybody happy with where it's going so far?' Jos replied: 'Well, they decided to change so I'm fine with everything. So as long as it works.' Then Rosberg hijacked the interview, after sneaking up on the pair. 'Last year, you said Horner needs to go!' Rosberg interrupted. You can watch the full awkward gridwalk interview in the player above. Jos replied: 'That was one and a half year ago. It's different. I have nothing to say. It's fine.' Rosberg then quipped: 'Now you're quiet?' To which Jos responded: 'I'm always quiet.' The grilling also left fans stunned, with many commending Rosberg for asking the hard questions. 'Awkward! Nico Rosberg sh** stirring Jos Verstappen on Brundle's grid walk when asked about changes at Red Bull,' one fan wrote on X. 'Nico Rosberg is an absolute menace. Absolute savage,' another added. 'Nico Rosberg is so f***ing messy! He just asked Jos about his comment last year that Horner needed to go,' a third wrote. Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner 'involved in explosive row' Rosberg's probe came after it was reported that Horner and Jos were involved in a heated discussion days before the former Red Bull boss was given his marching orders. Ralf Schumacher said in the Boxengasse-podcast: '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. 'But I understand it too. For me, Christian Horner is also a bit of a difficult person. '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.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Christian Horner reveals 'different horse power' plans ahead of first Formula One race since his Red Bull sacking
Christian Horner offered a glimpse into the 'different horse power' he has been working with ahead of the first Formula One Grand Prix since his sacking by Red Bull. Horner was dismissed as team principal on earlier this month after 20 years at the constructor, having overseen the team's transformation from upstart on the grid to winner of six constructors' championships and eight drivers' championships. While the official reason for Horner's firing remains unstated, it comes almost exactly a year after the former team principal was engulfed in a high-profile investigation. 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. The episode cast a long shadow over the team, though, and left Horner's public image severely tarnished. Horner has been replaced by Laurent Mekies at the helm of the team as the F1 season continues at the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend. And keen to show he is making the most of his time away from the sport, Horner posted a tongue-in-cheek story on Instagram revealing his involvement in a more natural form of speed. Jos Verstappen on Christian Horner's Red Bull exit 🗣️ — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) July 27, 2025 The video posted to the 51-year-old's account showed him riding a horse along a country lane, in addition to an image of him atop his steed in front of a barn. Horner accompanied the images with the caption: 'Different horse power this Sunday.' On Saturday, Max Verstappen won the first race since the sudden sacking of Horner – a first-lap overtake setting up the Red Bull man for victory in the sprint at the Belgian GP. In claiming victory, Verstappen took advantage of a skinny rear wing, which helps achieve superior straight-line speed, as well as a tow along the Kemmel Straight, to make the decisive pass on McLaren's Oscar Piastri, the pole man, at Les Combes. 'Well done, Max,' Mekies told Verstappen over the radio. 'Very, very impressive defence, very well controlled. You didn't leave anything on the table there.' 'Thank you, Laurent,' replied the four-time champion. Ahead of Sunday's race, Jos Verstappen - Max's father and a vocal critic of Horner, was asked if he was happy with the 51-year-old dismissal. 'They decided to change so I'm fine with everything,' Verstappen Sr told Sky Sports. 'As long as it works.' On comments he made last year that Horner 'needed to go', he added: 'It's different. I have nothing to say.'
The Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
‘Now you're quiet' – Nico Rosberg in frosty exchange with Jos Verstappen over Christian Horner after Red Bull sacking
NICO ROSBERG and Jos Verstappen shared a frosty exchange over Christian Horner's Red Bull sacking. Horner was axed as Red Bull team principal last week following a string of woeful results at the team. 2 It also came amid rumoured friction between Horner and Max Verstappen's dad Jos. Jos - who raced professionally from 1994-2003 - was probed about Horner's exit by Martin Brundle at the Belgian GP. Brundle asked: "Big changes in the team. Are you and Max and everybody happy with where it's going so far?" Jos replied: "Well, they decided to change so I'm fine with everything. So as long as it works." Former F1 champion Rosberg, working for Sky Sports, awkwardly gatecrashed the interview. And he told Jos: "Last year, you said Horner needs to go!" Jos replied: "That was one and a half year ago. It's different. I have nothing to say. It's fine." Jos responded: "I'm always quiet." Reigning world champ Verstappen still has three years left on his Red Bull deal but remains linked with a move to Mercedes. Christian Horner 'in tears' during farewell speech to Red Bull employees as sacked boss admits decision came as 'shock' But the Dutchman insisted Horner's exit will have no bearing on his future with Red Bull. He said: "No, it doesn't really. Now, I think people can have a difference of opinion here and then. "And I actually expect that to happen because if everyone always agrees, there is a problem. You need to have difference of opinions. "And yeah, that's now something that we work with in a different direction. I'm excited about it. "Like you said, 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. "And like I said, 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." 2
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Watch: Jos Verstappen grilled over Christian Horner exit by Nico Rosberg
Jos Verstappen has broken his public silence on Christian Horner's Red Bull exit after being grilled by former world champion Nico Rosberg ahead of the Belgium Grand Prix. Verstappen Snr, father of four-time world champion Max Verstappen, was somewhat ambushed by the Sky Sports duo of Martin Brundle and Rosberg during the famous gridwalk. Initially moving to speak with former McLaren and Renault driver Heikki Kovalainen, Brundle and Rosberg quickly spotted the looming figure of Verstappen standing alongside him. After briefly greeting Kovalainen, Brundle immediately turned his attention to Verstappen to address the elephant in the Red Bull garage following Horner's sudden exit two weeks ago. 'All change in the team?' asked Brundle, to which Verstappen looked surprised to hear. Verstappen responded: 'Well they decided to change so I'm fine with everything. Normal work.' Verstappen had been Horner's biggest critic after speaking out on several occasions, following the sexting scandal that emerged last year. Horner fell out badly with the father of his star driver and also with Helmut Marko, the Austrian motorsport adviser and confidant of late Red Bull co-owner and founder Dietrich Mateschitz. In the immediate aftermath of the scandal, Verstappen publicly called for Horner to go, saying that the team could 'not go on the way it was', and adding that it would 'explode' such was the tension. Perhaps with this in mind, Rosberg immediately jumped in to press Verstappen further. 'Last year you said Horner needs to go because he's going to destroy the team?' the 2016 F1 world champion asked. Verstappen bristled in response: 'Yeah but that was one-and-a-half years ago. It's different. I have nothing to say so it's fine.' 'You're quiet now?' responded Rosberg, before smirking to the camera as Verstappen replied 'I'm always quiet'. Jos Verstappen on Christian Horner's Red Bull exit 🗣️ — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) July 27, 2025 It is the first time that Verstappen has publicly addressed Horner's exit since the senior Red Bull management intervened to remove the team principal from his roles after the British Grand Prix. Those figures, including Marko and Oliver Mintzlaff, the managing director of Red Bull GmbH, have refused to speak this weekend in Belgium beyond the former confirming that any suggestions the Verstappens were behind Horner's dismissal were 'complete nonsense'. Horner denied the accusations against him throughout the two investigations and his wife, the former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, stood by him. He was subsequently cleared by a second investigation last summer following an appeal from the complainant. But he and Verstappen Snr remained at loggerheads and the tension when the latter attended races was palpable. The two were seen having a heated conversation following Verstappen's fifth place at Silverstone earlier this month.
