Jos Verstappen was left squirming on live television as former world champion Nico Rosberg confronted him with his past comments about Christian Horner.
Horner was dismissed as team principal and CEO of Red Bull earlier this month after 20 years with the team, having overseen their transformation from upstart on the grid to winner of six constructors’ championships and eight drivers’ championships.
Although his sacking came over a year after the former team principal was engulfed in a high-profile investigation, Horner’s dismissal was said to be purely performance-related.
In February last year, the 51-year-old was accused of sexual harassment and coercive and controlling behaviour by a female employee. He was twice cleared, initially after an internal investigation conducted by a lawyer, and then by another lawyer who dismissed the female employee’s appeal.
Around the time, Jos – influential father of Red Bull’s reigning world champion Max Verstappen – called for Horner’s exit.
MailOnline reported that Jos was spending time with the woman at the heart of the sexting scandal, and that the controversy ’caused even more difficulties’ in his and Horner’s already-fragile relationship.
Jos Verstappen was awkwardly grilled by Nico Rosberg about Christian Horner’s sacking
Horner was dismissed as team principal and CEO of Red Bull earlier this month after 20 years
Last year, Horner was embroiled in scandal after alleged sex texts emerged
The two warring F1 giants ‘never really saw eye to eye in the first place’. But Jos has now downplayed any alleged tensions he had with Horner.
Being interviewed on the grid ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Sky Sports reporter Martin Brundle asked Jos: ‘Big changes in the team. Are you and Max and everybody happy with where it’s going so far?’
Jos issued a diplomatic response. ‘Well, they decided to change so I’m fine with everything, so as long as it works,’ he said.
Rosberg then reminded Jos of his public call last year for Horner to step down.
The former Mercedes driver said: ‘Last year, you said: “Horner needs to go because he’s going to destroy the team”.’
Jos tried to brush it off, replying: ‘That was a year ago. It’s different. I have nothing to say. It’s fine.’
But Rosberg pressed again, ‘Now you’re quiet? You’re quiet now?’ to which Jos responded: ‘I’m always quiet.’
Throughout the scandal, Max’s loyalty remained with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, the man who discovered and backed him as a teenager.
MailOnline understands that Horner and Jos ‘never really saw eye to eye’ and that their relationship soured even more after Horner’s sexting scandal
Jos was spending time with the woman at the heart of the sexting scandal, and the controversy ’caused even more difficulties’ in his and Horner’s relationship
Max Verstappen’s loyalty remained with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko when there was a power struggle between Marko and Horner in early 2024
Amid interest from Mercedes, Max insisted Horner’s exit will have no bearing on his F1 future
When Marko threatened to quit during a power struggle between himself and Horner in early 2024, Max made his stance clear. From then onwards, Horner’s position at the team was precarious.
It is understood that Horner’s expanding grip on power within the Red Bull structure, including control over marketing, technical, and engine departments, had caused friction at the top.
Max, who has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, has been persistently linked with a shock switch to Mercedes.
But the four-time champion insisted Horner’s exit will have no bearing on his Formula One future.
The Dutchman said: ‘No, it doesn’t really. Now, I think people can have a difference of opinion here and then… I don’t think it will matter at all for my decision in the future.
‘And yet, the only thing that matters is that we work on the car and make it as fast as we can make it, really.’
