- Helmut Marko recently spoke of ‘great concerns’ over Max Verstappen’s future
- Red Bull have struggled to keep up with their rivals due to a variety of factors
- Horner gave an extended interview, also discussing next season’s development
Christian Horner insists he has no fears over Max Verstappen’s commitment to Red Bull despite mounting unease over his future.
Verstappen is contracted with Red Bull until 2028 but in April their key advisor Helmut Marko, who is also a mentor to the Dutchman, admitted the team had ‘great concerns’ over whether he would stay.
He will be allowed to leave this summer if he finishes lower than third in the drivers’ standings due to a clause in his contract. The four-time champion sits third, 26 points ahead of fourth-placed George Russell, going into Sunday’s Canadian GP.
Mercedes and McLaren both tried to lure him last year, though Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff admitted in March that their interest in him had cooled.
Verstappen’s father Jos had a blazing row with Horner last year, claiming the team would ‘explode’ if he remained in post after allegations of ‘coercive behaviour’ towards a female member of staff, and indicating that his son could leave. Horner was cleared after an internal investigation.
Given all of this, is Horner not afraid Verstappen could leave? ‘No, he has always been loyal to the team and Red Bull in general. We have grown together,” Horner told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.
Christian Horner is not worried about Max Verstappen’s Red Bull future despite others’ fears
Verstappen’s mentor Helmut Marko said the team had ‘great concerns’ over his future
The four-time world champion is contracted until 2028 but would be allowed to leave if he finishes lower than third in the drivers’ standings
‘He came here as a teenager and is now a 27-year-old father and four-time world champion. With Max, you know where you stand. I still think he feels very good here.
‘For me, relationships are more important than contracts. If you have to point to a contract, it mainly shows that a relationship doesn’t work. A contract is something you sign and that contains principles, but then it disappears in a drawer. After that, you only refer to it when you have a problem. There will always be commotion in this paddock around a driver of his stature and talent.’
Over Wolff’s attempt to woo Verstappen, and McLaren team principal Zak Brown’s call to the driver’s manager, he said: ‘They wouldn’t be doing their job properly if they didn’t. But that doesn’t automatically mean Max will leave. It’s just part of Formula 1.’
And on his star driver’s father Jos, he said: ‘I think it’s always important to look forward together. Jos is right. I have enormous respect for everything he has done for Max.
‘And we must not forget that we have to do it together. This is one of the most competitive sports in the world. We will only succeed in challenging McLaren if we work together as a team,’ he warned.
Red Bull have been left in the dust this year and sit fourth in the constructors’ standings.
They have fewer than half the points of dominant party McLaren but closely trail Ferrari and Mercedes.
Horner’s outfit has had manifold issues with the car this season after legendary designer Adrian Newey walked out to join Aston Martin.
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has cooled his pursuit of the Dutchman’s services.. for now
McLaren CEO Zak Brown also called up Verstappen’s manager last year but has two stellar drivers on his roster
Verstappen’s father Jos had a heated feud with Horner last year but the Red Bull chief says they must ‘work together’
Horner admits it would be ‘naive’ to expect Red Bull to set the standard next season
And Verstappen’s two team-mates, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, have also been off the pace to contribute to their plummet in the standings.
The sport regulation changes will have a huge impact in 2026 and Red Bull are developing their own engine for the first time in collaboration with Ford.
In light of that, Horner admitted to De Telegraaf: ‘I really believe we will be in a competitive position. But it would be naive and almost disrespectful towards Mercedes, Ferrari and Honda to think that we will set the standard in our first year.
‘We have never built an engine and have not driven a lap. But I am confident that we have the right people on board to deliver. It will undoubtedly take time and be a steep learning curve. For the whole team, 2026 will be a reset. It is part of Red Bull’s DNA to embrace risks.’
