The Red Bull Formula One team is at risk of “exploding” if under-fire Christian Horner stays on as team principal, said Jos Verstappen, the father of three-time champion Max Verstappen.
In the lead-up to the new season and at the opening race in Bahrain last weekend, the spotlight has been almost entirely on Horner over his alleged behaviour towards a team employee.
The saga had little impact on Red Bull's performance on the track as Verstappen stormed to victory, with teammate Sergio Perez taking second place, more than 22 seconds behind the Dutchman.
“There is tension here while he remains in position,” Verstappen Sr told the Daily Mail after his son won Saturday's season-opening race in Manama. “The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can't go on the way it is. It will explode. He [Horner] is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”
On Wednesday, the team’s parent company dismissed a complaint of alleged misconduct by Horner towards a team employee.
A day later, during practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix, a file alleged to contain evidence against Horner was emailed to nearly 200 people in the F1 paddock, including Liberty Media, F1, the FIA, the other nine team principals and multiple media outlets.
The authenticity of the file, which was sent from a generic email account, has not been verified.
Jos Verstappen, a former F1 driver who was Michael Schumacher’s teammate when they raced at Benetton, has been pointed to as a potential source of the file by some F1 insiders but he firmly denied it.
“That wouldn't make sense,” the 51-year-old Dutchman said. “Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here?”
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Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit on March 2, 2024. Getty Images -
Race winner Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing celebrates after his victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix. Getty Images -
Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen takes the chequered flag at Bahrain International Circuit. EPA -
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner with his wife Geri after Max Verstappen's victory. PA -
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing makes a pit stop. Getty Images -
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing leads Charles Leclerc of Ferrari. Getty Images -
George Russell of Mercedes and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari battle. Getty Images -
Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen leads the pack at the start of the race. EPA -
Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner before the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix. AFP
Horner has denied wrongdoing and said in a statement issued on Thursday that he would not “comment on anonymous speculation” concerning the file.
Reacting to the controversy, the president of Formula One’s governing body told the Financial Times that the controversy around Horner is damaging the sport.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said any complaint lodged with its compliance officer would be investigated but it had not received one related to Horner’s situation.
“It’s damaging the sport,” Ben Sulayem told the newspaper, which added that he was speaking on Friday after a meeting with Horner. “This is damaging on a human level.”
