Max Verstappen rubbishes reports of rift with Christian Horner
Max Verstap👍pen asked to comment on his relationship with R💙ed Bull boss Christian Horner
Max Verstappen has rubbished reports claimin⭕g that Red Bull F1 team principal Christian Horner and his fඣamily have fallen out.
Recent reports in Dutch me🐲dia 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 th🌱at his relationship with Horner is as strong as ever.
“It’🉐s the same as always,” Verstappen told media incl✤uding mahbx.com.
“I don’t know who likes to write these thi🌱ngs but to me and Christian, it’s like always.”
Horner made his first public appearance - at Red Bull’s launch of theiꦅr 2024 F1 car on Thursday - since a complaint of inappropriate behaviour was made aga🤡inst 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 f🌊inished without conclusion.
Horner confirmed on Thursday that he intends to be in Bಞahrain 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 ow🦩n 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 muchꦍ, outside of my scheduled training.
“There are a lot of things going on iꦯn the background, for me also, what I want to do in t♈he 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 loo🥀k 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 weജ are also very proud of what we have achieved with this c💯ar in terms of the development.
“We’re just l𒁏o🌞oking forward to start the season and hopefully to fight for wins again.”
Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for ma🌼hbx.com around the world. Often reporting on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who matter in the🧜 sport.
