SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA – JUNE 29: Jos Verstappen and Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Consultant, Dr. Helmut Marko, converse in the Paddock before the Sprint preceding the Austrian Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on June 29, 2024, in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
The duo shares a tumultuous history that was thrown into the spotlight after the scandalous ‘sexting’ incident involving Horner, which not only shook the team before the start of this season, but also involved the involvement of Verstappen Snr. confronting his son’s boss. Since then, tensions have escalated, with the possibility of a new explosive confrontation, just like what happened in Austria.
In March, Jos Verstappen, father of Max Verstappen, expressed his concerns about Horner, stating that the team was on the verge of collapse and that the situation could not continue as it was. He accused Horner of playing the victim when he was actually the one causing the problems. Fast forward four months to the Austrian Grand Prix, the dispute reignited when Jos decided to withdraw from a ‘Legends Parade’ event that was part of the pre-race activities at the Red Bull Ring.
According to Bild, when Horner learned of Jos’ plans to withdraw, he questioned Jos’ status as a legend, considering his mediocre Formula 1 career with 107 starts. Verstappen Snr.’s harsh words towards Horner certainly did not help improve their relationship. The report also states that Red Bull’s media team, and not Horner himself, internally decided not to feature any material involving Jos Verstappen on their social media to avoid any confusion, given the tension of the past few months.
Jos Verstappen explained his withdrawal from the ‘Legends Parade’ to De Telegraaf, expressing his disappointment with Horner’s alleged attempts to prevent him from participating. He criticized the situation, calling it childish and stating that he was tired of Horner. However, Horner denies blocking Jos’s participation, stating that there was no veto on his part.
Amidst this highly publicized dispute, Formula 1 observer and commentator Martin Brundle, in his analysis of the Austrian GP for Sky F1, questions whether all this off-track drama is affecting the main protagonist in the midst of it all, Max Verstappen. Brundle speculates that the ongoing dispute between Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner may be affecting Max’s performance on the track.
Despite the off-track distractions, Verstappen displayed an impressive performance during the race, leading until lap 64. Even after all the chaos, he managed to recover and finish in P5, surpassing even his teammate Sergio Perez. This result further extended his lead in the 2024 Formula 1 drivers’ standings over Norris.
