Crimson Bull group boss Christian Horner has sensationally informed Max Verstappen he can go away in a bombshell interview.
The 50-year-old's feedback got here after the Dutch driver gained the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to make it back-to-back wins this season.
Verstappen lately threatened to give up the group amid the Horner scandal.
He stated that if Crimson Bull adviser Helmut Marko had been to depart, he would comply with go well with throughout an investigation into an 80-year-old man who might have leaked confidential data to the media.
Verstappen's transfer to Mercedes has been mooted with the Silver Arrows seeking to exchange Lewis Hamilton within the 2025 marketing campaign.
And Horner, who was cleared of “inappropriate behaviour” in direction of a colleague, has now stated he wouldn’t stand in the way in which of the 26-year-old's departure.
Though he warned Verstappen that he wouldn’t discover a sooner automotive on the grid than Crimson Bull, who’ve gained the Constructors' Cup for the previous two years.
Horner stated: “You possibly can't pressure somebody to be someplace simply due to a chunk of paper.
“If somebody didn't need to be on this group, then you realize, we're not going to pressure somebody towards their will to be right here.
“That's true whether or not it's a machinist, a design engineer or somebody in one of many help capabilities going by way of the store.
“Being concerned in a group like this takes dedication and fervour. And Max has that, we've seen it.”
“He's been right here since he was 18. And I’ve no doubts about his dedication and fervour.
“However no particular person is larger than the group.
“We now have an outstanding automotive. We now have one spot open for subsequent 12 months. I most likely have 16 drivers who’re determined to be in that automotive subsequent 12 months.”
“I'm certain each group within the paddock would like to have Max, however like Toto [Wolff, Mercedes boss] he additionally stated that the perfect drivers all the time need to be in the perfect vehicles.”
