Max Verstappen has insisted his father is “not mendacity” however says Jose Verstappen's declare that Crimson Bull will “explode” if Christian Horner stays in cost “shouldn't” occur.
Horner's place as group principal and managing director has come below intense scrutiny following an investigation by the group's mother or father firm Crimson Bull GmbH, which rejected allegations of inappropriate habits made towards him by feminine colleagues. The complainant reserves the appropriate to enchantment the choice.
Horner, who has denied the allegations all through the trial, got here below recent stress forward of final weekend's opening Bahrain Grand Prix when materials presupposed to be proof in an investigation into his conduct was leaked to a number of media organizations and F1 group bosses. nameless e-mail account.
On the day Verstappen launched his bid for a fourth consecutive drivers' title with a dominant victory in Bahrain, his father informed reporters the group was “in peril of falling aside” and “exploding”.
For the primary time since his father's feedback had been made public, Verstappen requested the media if he agreed with the evaluation.
“I don't know,” he stated. “I imply, I hope not. It shouldn't be. It's a robust firm, a robust group, a number of sturdy group members, so usually not.”
Verstappen was compelled to supply an additional protection of his character after his father, who was filmed in a post-race dialogue with Horner in Bahrain, regretting his feedback.
“I didn't ask him that,” Verstappen stated. “I feel from what I've recognized him from when he was in karts, he's at all times been very open and he hasn't lied. That's for positive. That's what I can say about issues from my facet.”
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Crimson Bull group principal Christian Horner was noticed chatting with Jose Verstappen within the paddock on the Bahrain Grand Prix. Footage courtesy of Sky Italy
Horner held one-on-one talks with Verstappen's supervisor Raymond Vermeulen earlier this week and is about to stay in command of this 12 months's Saudi Grand Prix whereas Jos Verstappen might be absent on account of commitments elsewhere.
“I used to be with him (Jos) till yesterday,” stated Verstappen. “We nonetheless discuss, we're a group. It's me, my dad and Raymond all collectively, and it at all times might be. However I feel he clearly felt that manner.”
“However for me, I don't suppose it issues if I'm on one facet or the opposite, in fact, as my dad's son, it will be bizarre to be on the opposite facet, however for me, I simply need to deal with the efficiency facet of issues and I simply need to speaking much less about what we're doing as a group off the observe than the precise efficiency, we have now an awesome automobile for the time being and we're trying ahead to an awesome 12 months.”
Verstappen refuses to rule out a Mercedes change
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Max Verstappen responds after being requested about his future and whether or not he thinks he’ll keep at Crimson Bull
Horner's clear intention to remain at Crimson Bull regardless of opposition from Verstappen's camp has led to hypothesis linking the Dutchman with a transfer to Mercedes, which has an open provide for 2025, with Lewis Hamilton heading to Ferrari.
Verstappen, who triumphed in a vastly intense title battle with Hamilton and Mercedes to win his first world championship in 2021, refused to rule out a future change.
“The factor is, no person would have seen Lewis transfer to Ferrari and in my life – and this isn’t about F1 or something, it's simply common life – you by no means know what's going to occur or what's going to occur to you or no matter occurs round you. what might have an effect on you,” stated Verstappen.
“So you’ll be able to by no means say one hundred pc that it's going to be like that. And that's how I strategy my life, however I don't suppose an excessive amount of about it both. I'm very relaxed, like I stated, I'm very completely happy.” there’s efficiency within the group, there isn’t any motive to go away.”
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George Russell thinks any group can be considering signing Max Verstappen after rumors linking the Dutchman with Mercedes
Verstappen says he stays dedicated to his contract with Crimson Bull, which runs till the tip of 2028, however is cautious concerning the influence of modifications to the sporting laws for the 2026 season.
“Clearly that was at all times the intention of the signing. That's why we signed for therefore lengthy to be right here,” Verstappen stated.
“Clearly it's concerning the efficiency of the automobile and naturally from 2026 it's a little bit of a query mark anyway with the brand new laws, however I knew that once I signed the contract.
“However I additionally know what they've completed for me in my profession, so clearly the intention is to remain on this group as a result of I actually take pleasure in it and I'm additionally actually completely happy within the group. additionally a motive to go away.”
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Lewis Hamilton believes Max Verstappen might be shortlisted to interchange him at Mercedes however questions why the Dutchman would need to depart Crimson Bull
Verstappen confirms Ben Sulayem interview
Verstappen additionally addressed reviews that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem had privately known as on him in Bahrain to publicly help Horner.
Whereas the likes of Mercedes group boss Toto Wolff have known as on the FIA and Formulation 1 to make sure “transparency” across the course of that led to Horner's dismissal, neither group has supplied an official touch upon the topic because the investigation ended.
Requested concerning the accuracy of reviews of a dialog between him and Ben Sulayem, who additionally faces fees of race interference finally 12 months's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Verstappen confirmed there had been contact.
“I'm not going to say sure or no on issues as a result of he got here to me privately,” Verstappen stated.
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Staff boss Christian Horner describes Crimson Bull's one-two end in Bahrain as a “good begin” and praises the group behind the scenes.
Horner, who is about to face the media on the group bosses' press convention in Jeddah on Thursday, stated after Crimson Bull's double in Bahrain that he anticipated to remain in his place till at the very least the tip of the season.
Requested in Bahrain from Sky Sports activities F1 if Crimson Bull is united, Horner stated: “Sure completely. We’re a really sturdy group. We even have nice help behind us, nice companions and nice shareholders. You don't get outcomes like that if you’re not united.”
At a media briefing with reporters in a while Saturday, Horner stated the previous week had “not been nice” and reaffirmed his intention to stay in his twin roles as group boss and chief govt.
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Simon Lazenby, David Croft and Naomi Schiff talk about why Crimson Bull are up to now forward after a dominant 1-2 win in Bahrain on the Sky Sports activities F1 Podcast.
“Clearly it wasn't nice, the undesirable consideration,” Horner stated. “However now I'm focusing quite a bit on the vehicles. I've been focusing quite a bit on what's taking place on the observe and at the moment's consequence I feel exhibits the place the entire group is targeted and we're transferring ahead.”
Horner claimed he couldn’t touch upon what he described as “nameless speculative reviews from an unknown supply”, referring to the fabric leaked final Thursday.
Sky Sports activities F1 Saudi Arabia GP Reside
Thursday, March 7
- 9.50am: F2 follow
- 10:50: F1 Academy coaching
- 13:00: Saudi Arabia's first GP coaching (begins at 13:30)
- 14:55: Qualifying F2
- 16:45: Second follow session of the Saudi Arabian GP (begin at 17:00)
- 18:15: F1 Academy Qualifying
- 19:15: Present F1
Friday, March 8
- 11.55am: F1 Academy Race 1
- 13:10: Saudi Arabia GP third follow (begin at 13:30)
- 15:05: F2 dash race
- 16:10: Compilation of the qualification for the GP of Saudi Arabia
- 17:00: QUALIFYING FOR THE GP OF SAUDI ARABIA
Saturday, March 9
- 12:00: F1 Academy Race 2
- 13:20: F2 principal race
- 15:30: Saudi Arabia GP build-up: Grand Prix Saturday
- 17:00: SAUDI ARABIA GRAND PRIX
- 19:00: Response to the Saudi GP: Checkered flag
- 21:30: Saudi Arabia Grand Prix
Watch the second spherical of the brand new F1 season – the Saudi GP – stay on Sky Sports activities F1 this week, with follow on Thursday, qualifying on Friday and the race on Saturday at 5pm. Stream each F1 race and extra with NOW Sports activities Month membership for simply £21 a month for 12 months
