Red Bull seemed to be enjoying a period of relative stability after consistent rumblings behind the scenes in the early part of the season. But tensions have now flared up once again between Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner.
When Adrian Newey handed in his resignation ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen senior warned that the team was at risk of ‘falling apart’. That seemed to have clear ramifications for the future of his son.
The Bulls have managed to prevent any high-profile figures following Newey out the door, at least in the immediate aftermath. And Max Verstappen seemingly confirmed in Thursday’s press conference that he’d be staying put for next year.
But a fresh spat between Verstappen’s father and team principal Horner has dominated the headlines in Austria. The 52-year-old was due to drive in the legends’ parade in Sebastian Vettel’s title-winning 2012 car.
But he told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that Horner had blocked him from participating. The Englishman denied this claim in the team principals’ press conference (FIA), but told Mercedes that ‘Jos is potentially available’ for 2025 in a telling picture of their relationship.
Mercedes have been the team pushing for the signature of Verstappen all year. They need to replace seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who’s heading to Ferrari.
Jos Verstappen spotted entering Mercedes hospitality at Austrian GP
According to The Race F1’s Scott Mitchell-Malm, Verstappen visited the Mercedes facility at the Red Bull Ring on Friday. It’s unclear if this had anything to do with his son’s plans.
Regardless, it’s a noteworthy move. Mercedes are, if nothing else, one of the Bulls’ leading rivals after a recent uptick in performance.
“Me after hearing Horner’s Jos Verstappen comments in the press conference and seeing Jos go into Mercedes hospitality,” Mitchell-Malm wrote on The Race’s official X account, accompanied by a picture of a bucket of popcorn.
Verstappen is under contract at Red Bull until the end of 2028. However, that deal can be broken ahead of the 2026 regulation changes, or at any point if Helmut Marko leaves the team.
Martin Brundle not convinced by what Christian Horner said about Max Verstappen
Horner hoped to use Verstappen’s Thursday comments to definitively put the story around his future to bed. He said that the 26-year-old was ‘pretty resolute’ in his stance and has always been ‘absolutely consistent’ with the team that he wanted to stay.
But Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle maintains that ‘something’s up’. He feels that Mercedes wouldn’t be ‘hanging round’ if they didn’t believe there was still a chance of signing the 61-time race-winner.
What’s more, his colleague Naomi Schiff added that Verstappen wasn’t especially emphatic in making a commitment to the team. In her eyes, he looked a little hesitant.
The chances of him departing still appear to be slim at best. But if Horner can’t heal the apparent rift with Verstappen senior, it could sew major doubts long-term.
Toto Wolff has denied the ‘stupid’ suggestion that his interest is a mere ‘tactic’ at this stage. If he is trying to distract Red Bull, then it isn’t working, with the Milton Keynes outfit 60 points clear at the top of the constructors’ championship after seven race wins.
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