Verstappen confirms Horner talks as champion issues bold D…read more
Max Verstappen has opened up about his ongoing relationship with former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, confirming that the pair remain in frequent contact despite Horner’s dramatic departure from the team earlier this year. Speaking ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, the reigning world champion disclosed that he still speaks with Horner “every race weekend,” a revelation that adds a new dimension to the conversation surrounding Red Bull’s internal dynamics during this turbulent season.
Horner, who led Red Bull for nearly two decades, was one of the longest-serving and most successful team bosses in Formula 1 history. Under his management, the team won multiple Constructors’ Championships and guided drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen to World Championship glory. However, in July, he was removed from his position following an internal saga that shook the paddock and dominated headlines for weeks. His departure marked the end of an era, but it appears the personal relationship between him and Verstappen has not dissolved with it.
Verstappen, who has secured four consecutive World Drivers’ Championships with Red Bull, did not hide the respect and appreciation he still has for Horner. While answering questions from the media in Qatar, he said that their conversations continue regularly and that both men maintain a strong mutual understanding built over years of collaboration, victories, and shared challenges.
According to Verstappen, the bond they formed during their championship-winning streak transcends the professional environment of Formula 1. He described Horner as someone who played a significant role not only in his growth as a driver but also in shaping the Red Bull team around him. Verstappen noted that the connection they share does not simply vanish because they are no longer working under the same team structure. Instead, their discussions, which he clarified are friendly and not centered on Red Bull politics, reflect the trust they built throughout their successful partnership.
Horner’s sudden exit created a ripple effect across the paddock, raising questions about stability inside Red Bull and the long-term prospects of key figures, including Verstappen himself. While he has asserted that his focus remains on the present season and maintaining high performance on track, Verstappen has not shied away from expressing concern about internal harmony at the team. Earlier in the year, he hinted that dissatisfaction with the sport’s direction or with Red Bull’s environment could push him to reconsider his future in Formula 1 altogether.
In Qatar, however, Verstappen took on a more confident and assertive tone regarding what lies ahead for him. The Dutch driver made a bold statement about his future prospects, indicating that his passion for racing remains strong and that he intends to keep competing at the highest level as long as the sport continues to be “fun and competitive.” He emphasized that while external noise and off-track politics can be distracting, they do not define his motivation to race.
His comments about Horner seem to underline this point: Verstappen’s loyalty appears to lie more with individuals than with corporate structures. Horner’s influence as a mentor and supporter, especially during Verstappen’s formative seasons, seems to have created a lasting impression. Verstappen went on to highlight that personal relationships in Formula 1, though often overshadowed by team politics, play a major role in shaping the mental and competitive stability of drivers.
The media in Qatar also pressed Verstappen on whether his continuous contact with Horner could create friction within the current Red Bull leadership. The Dutchman calmly dismissed such concerns, reiterating that his conversations with Horner are personal and not connected to team operations or strategic decisions. He added that he appreciates the clarity and directness Horner always brought to their interactions and that this familiarity is something he naturally maintains.
As the weekend continues at Qatar, Verstappen is balancing his championship ambitions with the swirling narratives surrounding Red Bull’s management changes. Nonetheless, his determined tone signals that he is fully committed to the remainder of the season and remains one of the strongest forces on the grid.
With the race weekend underway and the title battle still fiercely alive, Verstappen’s acknowledgment of his ongoing relationship with Horner—combined with his confident declaration about his future—sends a message to both fans and rivals: despite the upheaval behind the scenes, Max Verstappen remains focused, grounded, and ready for whatever challenges the next chapter of Formula 1 brings.
