NEW DELHI: Max Verstappen has brushed aside speculation suggesting that Christian Horner could lose his position as Red Bull Racing’s team principal if the team’s upgrades at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix fail to close the gap to McLaren.
Reports from Italy’s AutoSprint claimed that Horner’s future hinges on Red Bull’s performance at Imola, with suggestions that he may lose the support of the Thai shareholding in Red Bull GmbH, led by Chalerm Yoovidhya, if the new upgrade package fails to deliver.
However, sources close to Red Bull have dismissed these claims as baseless, affirming to PlanetF1.com that a short-term decline in performance is not a concern for the shareholders. Horner, who has been the team principal since 2005, has a contract running until the end of the 2030 F1 season.
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Verstappen Stands Firm Amid Speculation
Verstappen, expressing his surprise at the rumours, stated,
“Honestly, I have no idea where they come from. Naturally, I don’t really follow a lot of that. People ask me questions, and I’m like, ‘I really don’t know who even puts that in the world.’”
The reigning World Champion acknowledged that while the team is not fully satisfied with their recent performances, they remain focused on improving competitiveness rather than paying attention to unverified speculations.
“We just focus on the performance. Where these rumours come from, I have no idea. We want to improve the car, and that’s what everyone in the team is focused on,” Verstappen said.
Red Bull currently sits third in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing McLaren and Mercedes. Verstappen, positioned third in the Drivers’ standings, is determined to close the gap as the team works on incremental upgrades.
Rumours have also linked Verstappen himself to potential moves to either Mercedes or Aston Martin, with the latter reportedly offering a $1 billion deal.
Verstappen, however, reiterated his commitment to Red Bull, saying,
“With the deal in place, that is my intention to be here until the end [2028]. It would be a great story for me to see it out with one family and one team.”
As the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix approaches, Red Bull is under pressure to deliver results, but both Verstappen and the team remain focused on improving their performance rather than entertaining speculative narratives.
