No regrets over Red Bull being “torn apart” warning

Jos Verstappen insists he has no regrets about stirring things up at Red Bull earlier this year in warning of the risks the team could be ‘torn apart’.

The father of the squad’s driver Max Verstappen was unhappy at the start of the campaign about the situation surrounding team boss Christian Horner in relation to the investigation into allegations made against him by a female employee.

Speaking after the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix in comments that were explosive at the time, the former F1 driver told The Daily Mail about Horner: “There is tension here while he remains in position.

“The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”

While things have calmed down a lot since then with Red Bull having not been torn apart as Max captured his fourth world title, Jos says he stands wholly by what he said.

Asked by De Telegraaf if he regretted anything, Verstappen Sr. said: “No, not at all. What the team boss does or does not do, that does influence everything that is going on around the team. And therefore around Max.

“Of course I get involved in that. I see it all happening and I do think that I am in a position to say something about it.

“If I am put on the spot, then I will give my opinion. I will never harm Max. I look at the overall picture. At the end of the day, I stand by everything I said.”

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, Consultant, Red Bull Racing, Jos Verstappen

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

The 2024 season did witness some key changes at Red Bull, however, with chief technical officer Adrian Newey and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley both leaving.

Reflecting on how things had seemed calmer now, Verstappen said: “I do have that feeling. Top advisor Helmut Marko seems to have more power again as well, which I think is a good thing. The team is now growing a bit more together again.”

Verstappen added that while the 2024 campaign proved successful for his son, it was not one of the most fun they have had together as a team.

“On the sporting side, it was a less enjoyable year with all the things going on surrounding the team,” he said. “But it ends with highlights, which is positive.

“It all turned out very differently than I had thought beforehand. Both on a sporting level and the other things around it.

“At the start of the season, Red Bull still looked very strong, but Max was already saying after a few races that the car was not as good as people thought. And to what extent all the noise around the team has had an impact on the sporting performance, that’s always hard to put a finger on.”

While Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull was the subject of intense intrigue earlier in the year, he eventually rejected overtures from Mercedes to stay on board.

However, things could again be up in the air next year as the squad looks to see the impact of the personnel changes.

Jos added: “There have been a lot of changes within the team. Some people have new positions. I do feel that the team has to prove itself again and that they have to show that we are still fast. That’s important for us.

“That’s the way Max is in it. The pressure is on and that’s the way it should be. It’s up to the team to show that they have kept the good people and can build a fast car again.”