AFPJos Verstappen at the Red Bull Ring
NOS Sport•vandaag, 19:53
Louis Decker
Formula 1 reporter
Louis Decker
Formula 1 reporter
“A ticking time bomb? No. Max and I are one. We can always get out of here.”
Not Max Verstappen, but his father Jos dominates the headlines in Spielberg bei Knittelfeld, where the eleventh grand prix of the season is being held this weekend. Once again, there is a row between Jos Verstappen and Red Bull Racing team leader Christian Horner. The affair casts a shadow over the home race of Max Verstappen’s team in Austria.
Verstappen senior and Horner are both prominently present at the Red Bull Ring, but they do not enjoy each other’s presence. It creates an uncomfortable atmosphere in the Holzhaus, the guesthouse of the racing stable. Hands are no longer shaken. The duo barely exchanges a word. The cold relationship that has been going on for months seems to have been spoiled forever.
EPAJos Verstappen and Christian Horner, last year at the Austrian GP
Earlier this year, the two had already come to blows after Horner was accused of inappropriate (sexual) behavior by a female employee. Although the discredited Horner was cleared of all blame after an internal investigation, Verstappen was publicly concerned about the unrest. “This is untenable. It is better for the team if he steps down.”
Horner survived the heavy storm. Excellent race results helped. Max Verstappen won seven of the ten races.
Ongoing power struggle
Nothing wrong at first glance. But major cracks are appearing. The dominance of the beginning of this year is gone. McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes have almost closed the gap with the Bulls.
A greater danger grows from within. There is still a power struggle going on: team boss Horner has the support of Red Bull’s headquarters in Austria and Thailand, but top advisor Helmut Marko forms a powerful triangle with Max and Jos Verstappen.
Horner didn’t want me filmed in that car. So childish. I’m done with that man.
Jos Verstappen
The two blocks regularly clash, but they (still) need each other. Verstappen wants the best car and Horner realizes that his team wins far fewer races without the 26-year-old Dutchman. It is a precarious balance.
The fresh drop in the bucket seems small and innocent at first glance. Jos Verstappen was supposed to drive a few laps on the Red Bull Ring in the support program of the grand prix with the RB8, a successful car of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.
NOS
Verstappen senior was booked for the Legends Parade with iconic Formula 1 cars and legendary drivers. For many fans one of the highlights of the race weekend. On paper a magnificent picture: Verstappen in a twelve-year-old Bull, together with the Lotus of Emerson Fittipaldi (1972) and the Ferrari of Michael Schumacher (2002), driven by the Austrian Gerhard Berger.
‘Very childish’
Verstappen senior put an end to it on Friday morning. “Christian has done everything he can to prevent me from driving here,” Verstappen said in the paddock. “He didn’t want me to be filmed in that car. Very childish. That’s why I withdrew. I’m completely done with that man. He better make Max’s car a little faster.”
Senior is annoyed. Will it still be okay if Horner comes with a bouquet of flowers? “No!”
A few hours later, Horner has no escape. He has to show up at the official press conference. His press man has instructed him extensively in advance: nasty questions will be asked about ‘father Jos’. The world press is much more interested in Jos’s RB8 than in Max’s RB20.
ANPChristian Horner and Max Verstappen
Horner settles into the room with fresh reluctance. He wants to keep it to a one-liner. “I won’t go into detail about the things Jos said. That doesn’t help anyone.” The troubled team boss sounds vicious. Especially when the Jos questions are fired at him again in various variations.
What is his relationship with Jos? What has caused their bond to deteriorate so much? Does it disturb the peace in the team? And will Max really stay at Red Bull? And what about those flirts from Mercedes?
“I know what’s going on,” says Horner, emphasizing that he plays a supporting role in the matter. “The Legends Parade is organized by the circuit. I’m not involved in it and I didn’t veto it.”
‘Iron-strong bond with Max’
The difficult relationship with Jos has no impact on working with Max, Horner emphasizes. “We have a very strong bond. Max is an essential team member and the best driver in the world. It is crucial that we click with him.” Horner takes a short side path into the past. “I have never had any problems with the fathers of my drivers. I don’t want to worry about that at all. I focus on performance. That is my core task.”
AFPMax Verstappen
Horner is not worried about the future. “Max has said it very clearly himself. He has a permanent contract and he will stay. He has won all his victories and titles with us, with a great group of people. And we have won 70 percent of the races.”
And what about those open declarations of love from Mercedes leader Wolff? “I think Toto is doing that to throw us off balance. That’s a tactic.” Horner ends his answer with a nasty sneer. “If Mercedes wants a Verstappen in the car? Then Jos is certainly available.”
For Horner it is crystal clear. Max Verstappen is not leaving. “Of course all sorts of things are written, but with all the stories you have to ask yourself why someone says that. What are the motives? It is to throw us off balance.”
“It started when Lewis Hamilton chose Ferrari. Mercedes has a vacancy and everyone is now speculating about that empty cockpit. But one thing is certain: Max Verstappen is not going to get in there.”
2024-06-28 17:53:27
#Mercedes #Verstappen #Jos
