Jos Verstappen Reignites Feud with Christian Horner as He Applauds Red Bull’s “New Positive Atmosphere” Under Laurent Mekies
The long-running feud between Jos Verstappen and former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has been reignited after Jos delivered a thinly veiled jab at Horner while praising the team’s renewed spirit under new leadership. In a recent interview with De Telegraaf, the father of reigning Formula One world champion Max Verstappen lauded the “much-improved atmosphere” within Red Bull Racing since Laurent Mekies took over the reins, suggesting that the change in management has brought a welcome transformation to the team’s morale and performance.
Jos Verstappen’s comments appear to be a direct swipe at Horner, whose relationship with both Jos and Max deteriorated dramatically throughout the 2024 season. The tension became one of the sport’s biggest off-track talking points, as the once tight-knit partnership between the Verstappen camp and the Red Bull hierarchy unraveled in full public view. Reports of heated disagreements, mistrust, and internal division plagued the Milton Keynes outfit, ultimately casting a shadow over their on-track efforts.
Despite the turmoil, Max Verstappen managed to remain competitive, though not as dominant as in previous seasons. Red Bull’s struggles in car development, combined with growing pressure from rivals McLaren and Ferrari, exposed cracks in the team’s once unshakable foundation. By mid-2025, the internal rift had become untenable. Following a string of poor performances and intensifying scrutiny from Red Bull’s parent company, Christian Horner was dismissed from his role as team principal last summer.
In his place, Laurent Mekies — formerly of AlphaTauri and Ferrari — was appointed to lead Red Bull into a new era. According to Jos Verstappen, the change has already made a noticeable difference. “The fact that Max even has a chance at the world title this year is a huge bonus,” Jos told De Telegraaf. “The atmosphere in the team is good now. There’s calmness, focus, and mutual respect. That’s what allows everyone to perform at their best.”
His remarks, while outwardly complimentary toward Mekies, carry an unmistakable undertone of criticism toward Horner, who had clashed repeatedly with the Verstappens over team management decisions and communication breakdowns. During the height of their feud, Max was reportedly caught in the middle, struggling to balance loyalty to his father with professionalism toward his team boss. The reigning champion himself admitted that navigating the tension between the two was “mentally exhausting.”
Since Horner’s departure, however, the team appears to have rediscovered its rhythm. Max Verstappen currently sits second in the 2025 Drivers’ Championship standings, just 36 points behind leader Lando Norris with four race weekends remaining. His recent performances suggest that Red Bull has found renewed form, closing the gap to McLaren after a series of technical upgrades and improved team cohesion.
Insiders within the paddock have noted that Mekies’ leadership style — described as calm, analytical, and cooperative — has resonated well with both Verstappen and the technical staff. The once-fraught communication channels between the driver, engineers, and management have reportedly become more transparent and efficient, a development that Jos Verstappen attributes to the new environment.
For Max, the focus remains firmly on chasing a fifth consecutive world title — a feat that would equal the record of legends like Lewis Hamilton and Juan Manuel Fangio. For Jos, however, the narrative extends beyond statistics. His recent comments make it clear that he views Red Bull’s revival as a validation of what he had been arguing all along: that a toxic internal atmosphere had been holding the team back.
Whether Christian Horner will respond to Jos Verstappen’s latest remarks remains to be seen. But one thing is certain — the tension between the former Red Bull boss and the Verstappen camp continues to simmer beneath the surface, adding another dramatic subplot to an already thrilling 2025 Formula One season.
