The chief of the Red Bull Racing team, Christian Horner, responded to the pursuit of Mercedes team boss, Toto Wolff, for Max Verstappen, stating that the team is “supporting their drivers” in Formula 1. Mercedes is considering options to replace Lewis Hamilton, who will move to Ferrari in 2025, and Verstappen is at the top of Wolff’s list. Despite speculations about Verstappen’s future, Horner denied that the Dutchman will leave Red Bull in 2025. Horner ensured that there are no doubts about Verstappen’s commitment to the team next year.
On the other hand, Wolff continues to publicly try to convince Verstappen to switch to Mercedes, despite the team’s recent struggles. Horner responded to Wolff’s statements by suggesting that there are other factors that will determine Verstappen’s future, besides the team’s performance. He emphasized the importance of Verstappen’s feelings within the team and his overall performance. Horner also stated that Wolff should focus on resolving Mercedes’ weak start to the season instead of trying to unsettle Red Bull by talking about Verstappen.
Horner highlighted that Red Bull has surpassed Mercedes in terms of race wins in the modern era, emphasizing the team’s current success. He questioned why anyone would want to leave a team that is performing well. Horner also mentioned that Mercedes is currently behind their customer teams, hinting that Wolff should prioritize the team’s performance over the driver market. He even suggested the availability of George Russell in 2026, indicating that Mercedes may need to consider their options.
When asked if Verstappen’s repeated statements about his commitment to Red Bull would put an end to Wolff’s pursuit, Horner expressed uncertainty and stated that sometimes these discussions are just to create noise. He emphasized that Verstappen has made his intentions clear several times and does not want to get involved in ongoing speculations.
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