Why is Max Verstappen staying at Red Bull despite tensions between his father and Christian Horner?
Max Verstappen has not shown interest in leaving Red Bull despite his father Jos Verstappen's fallout with Christian Horner.
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Christian Horner, Max Verstappen, and Jos Verstappen (images via IMAGO)
Red Bull has had a rough 2024 season. Team Principal Christian Horner was under investigation over alleged inappropriate behavior. The Briton was not found guilty, however this created tensions within the team, especially between Horner and Max Verstappen‘s father Jos Verstappen. Moreover, it seems that things have not improved between them since.
After Adrian Newey announced his exit from Red Bull, Jos Verstappen claimed that he feared this would happen. The former F1 driver even claimed that the Austrian team would fall apart due to Horner. On the other hand, Max Verstappen remained diplomatic in his comments and did not engage in the controversies.
It is believed that Jos Verstappen is keen to have his son move to Mercedes. The Silver Arrows have even expressed interest in signing the reigning world champion on more than one occasion. This has made fans wonder, why is Max Verstappen still staying at Red Bull despite tensions between Horner and his father?
Red Bull remains Max Verstappen’s best bet for now
Max Verstappen has made it clear that he only cares about having a fast car. The Dutch driver asserted that even a $250 million contract won’t entice him to join Mercedes or any other team if Red Bull had the fastest car. However, one must note that Milton Keynes has seemingly lost its pace advantage this season.
Red Bull is facing stiff challenge from Mercedes and McLaren this season. This could be the perfect opportunity for Verstappen to join the Silver Arrows, something his father would appreciate. However, the Dutch driver continues to have faith in his team. Milton Keynes has focused its entire operations around Max Verstappen, something which would not happen at Toto Wolff‘s Mercedes. Although, it must be noted that rumors suggest that the Dutchman is in talks with Brackley for a possible switch in 2026.
Recently, Verstappen mentioned that he will not make his future decision based on emotion. Perhaps a hint that the 26-year-old won’t simply follow his father’s advice. Max Verstappen is a smart driver who is willing to wait and consider all his options carefully before making a call. Currently, the reigning world champion is set to stay at Red Bull till the end of 2028.
Certainly, fans would be surprised if Max Verstappen decides to jump ship to Mercedes within a couple of years. However, it would be foolish to think that the Dutch driver has ruled out such a move altogether. As such, it is likely that Verstappen’s future will be dictated by on-track performances of Red Bull and Mercedes in the coming months.
In case you missed it:
- Adrian Newey’s Red Bull successor confesses he’ll ‘never be like’ the aero-genius
- Toto Wolff reveals Mercedes’ target in close 2024 title battle
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Armaan Agarwal
(2359 Articles Published)