Max Verstappen Drops a Bombshell: His Unexpected Bond with Former Red Bull Chief Christian Horner
It may come as a surprise to many, but the relationship between Max Verstappen and Christian Horner is far from over, even after the latter's dismissal from his role as Red Bull Racing's team principal six months ago. Despite the upheaval, Verstappen has revealed that he and Horner remain in regular contact, chatting each week.
Christian Horner had been at the helm of Red Bull since its inception 20 years ago but was let go following a disappointing first half of the season. The team's performance had dipped significantly, leaving them in fourth place in the constructors' championship, trailing 288 points behind McLaren after the British Grand Prix in July.
Verstappen can empathize with the decision made by the Red Bull board to seek change, particularly in light of the personal allegations against Horner from his assistant 17 months prior, which led to two separate investigations. In a reflective end-of-year interview with Viaplay, the Dutch driver candidly shared his thoughts: "Things weren't going quite well within the team in terms of results, and, of course, there was also a bit of unrest. When things don’t improve for a while, shareholders often push for change. They were dissatisfied with the direction the team was heading, so ultimately, they decided to make a shift and appointed Laurent Mekies."
Verstappen did not shy away from discussing the emotional impact of this management change. He had developed a friendship with Horner over their successful years together, especially highlighted during Verstappen’s first championship victory in 2021. "It’s tough because you form a connection with Christian, and we’ve accomplished so much together. Those moments in 2021 will always stay with me," he expressed. "Christian really supported me through thick and thin, and those conversations can be challenging now."
What’s truly remarkable is how frequently Verstappen and Horner continue to communicate. When asked if their connection still exists, Verstappen replied, "We talk every week during race weekends—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. He reaches out to wish me luck, expressing his belief in my abilities. It’s not just about racing; we chat about our experiences and share personal conversations as well. So yes, we stay in touch regularly, even after his departure from the team."
Interestingly, despite the leadership change purportedly leading to improvements in Red Bull’s performance—evidenced by Verstappen securing victories in six out of ten races post-summer break—he approached this topic with caution. "I have to be careful about how I frame this," he stated. "I don’t want to undermine Christian because he achieved a lot with the team, and others have big shoes to fill. Horner played a crucial role in assembling the team that brought us success, and transitions like these are common in sports during tough times."
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