Red Bull Boss Horner Holds Talks with Verstappen’s Manager Amid Off-Track Tensions

Under scrutiny amidst off-track tensions, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has engaged in discussions with Max Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, in an effort to address any lingering issues ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Reportedly, the meeting occurred in Dubai, with Vermeulen representing Verstappen’s interests. Notably, neither Max nor Jos Verstappen, his father, were present at the meeting, which was described as productive by sources close to the situation.

While Verstappen showcased dominance at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, with teammate Sergio Perez securing second place, Red Bull has found itself embroiled in controversies outside of the race track.

Before the start of the season, Horner was exonerated of any misconduct following an independent inquiry into allegations of inappropriate behavior. However, the aftermath saw the dissemination of alleged evidence, including text messages, images, and videos, to accredited Formula 1 media and senior officials via an anonymous email account, raising questions about the validity of the evidence.

Tensions within Red Bull intensified after Jos Verstappen publicly criticized Horner, expressing concerns that the ongoing turmoil could fracture the team. Furthermore, Max Verstappen’s potential move to Mercedes as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton has added pressure on Horner and the Red Bull team.

Despite the upheaval, Verstappen has publicly supported Horner, emphasizing his performance as a team boss. Verstappen stated, “When I look at how Christian operates within the team, he has been an incredible team boss.” Verstappen’s focus remains on performance, with Horner’s commitment to the team and its objectives acknowledged.

“He’s also here for the performance, of course. Probably a little bit distracted, but like I said before, we just focus on the performance side of things. And that’s how we all work together.”

As the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix approaches, the outcome of the discussions between Horner and Vermeulen may prove crucial in stabilizing Red Bull’s internal dynamics and refocusing on the competitive challenges on the track.