Jos Verstappen made it clear that he was no ally of Christian Horner’s long before Red Bull sacked their team principal of 20 years earlier this week. Rumblings of discontent had been swirling around the F1 outfit for well over a year, with high-level figures said to be at odds, and the likes of Verstappen Sr. airing out his grievances in public.
Red Bull’s results have declined significantly since the former F1 driver said the team was at risk of ‘falling apart’ last year. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen – Jos’ son – qualified on pole for last weekend’s British Grand Prix, but he was forced to settle for a measly P5 finish, crossing the finish line more than 56 seconds behind McLaren’s race winner Lando Norris.
After the Grand Prix, various reports indicated that Verstappen’s dad got into a heated debate with senior figures in the Red Bull garage. After ‘gesturing wildly and pointing his finger’ at communications chief Paul Smith, he is said to have addressed Horner with the chilling message: “I’ll keep the pressure on you, Christian.”
For Red Bull, it could pay to keep the Verstappen camp happy amid lingering doubts around the four-time world champion’s future. He has made it clear that he is not prepared to stay in F1 for as long as the likes of Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso.
Verstappen therefore needs a competitive car to rack up as many titles as he can in the short time he has. He is currently 69 points behind Drivers’ Championship leader Oscar Piastri despite punching well above his weight in the Red Bull.
The Dutchman kept his farewell message brief when Horner’s departure was confirmed, writing on social media: “From my first race win, to four world championships, we have shared incredible successes. Winning memorable races and breaking countless records. Thank you for everything, Christian!”
Part of the uncertainty around Verstappen’s Red Bull future stems from unanswered questions in the Mercedes garage. Team principal Toto Wolff has tried to sign him in the past, and a vacancy could open up at the end of the year, when George Russell will be out of contract.
The switch would be harsh on Russell, who is enjoying a fine individual season, but Wolff could secure his dream long-term driver line-up if he manages to pair Verstappen with F1 wonderkid Kimi Antonelli.
Aston Martin have also been linked with Verstappen over the past 12 months, with former Red Bull design guru Adrian Newey working on their 2026 car. But convincing the 27-year-old to sign could be tricky given their lowly eighth-place standing in the Constructors’ Championship.