Max Verstappen rubbishes reports of rift with Christian Horner

Max Verstappen has rubbished reports claiming that Red Bull F1 team principal Christian Horner and his family have fallen out.

Recent reports in Dutch media suggested that Horner’s relationship with Verstappen’s father, Jos, had become ‘badly damaged’, and that Verstappen is loyal to Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.

There has also been speculation of a power struggle within Red Bull but Verstappen insists that his relationship with Horner is as strong as ever.

“It’s the same as always,” Verstappen told media including Crash.net.

“I don’t know who likes to write these things but to me and Christian, it’s like always.”

Horner made his first public appearance - at Red Bull’s launch of their 2024 F1 car on Thursday - since a complaint of inappropriate behaviour was made against him.

The 50-year-old has denied the allegations and continues to work for Red Bull while the investigation is being carried out. He was interviewed by an independent lawyer on Friday about the claims made by a female employee but the hearing finished without conclusion.

Horner confirmed on Thursday that he intends to be in Bahrain for next week’s pre-season test.

Asked whether he found the investigation surrounding Horner to be a distraction personally, Verstappen replied: “From my side, I am very focused on my own performance to get ready, to be fit, to be ready to drive the car, to be discussing things with the engineers, what you want to do.

“Plus my life is not only F1. When I am at home I prefer not to think about F1 too much, outside of my scheduled training.

“There are a lot of things going on in the background, for me also, what I want to do in the future, also from the virtual side of things, that I’m working on. So I’m more than busy enough.”

Verstappen said the atmosphere in the team is “good” as Red Bull look to follow up on a record-breaking 2023 season with yet more success in 2024.

“Everyone is motivated again,” he added. “Of course we are all very proud of what we have achieved in the years before but we are also very proud of what we have achieved with this car in terms of the development.

“We’re just looking forward to start the season and hopefully to fight for wins again.”