Max Verstappen, the Dutch driver from Red Bull Racing, celebrated his third victory in the World Championship at the Sprint parc ferme in Qatar. Christian Horner, the Team Principal, and Adrian Newey, the Chief Technical Officer, joined him in the celebration. The Formula 1 World Championship, held in Doha, saw Verstappen emerge victorious on October 7, 2023.
In recent news, Christian Horner, the head of Red Bull Formula 1, addressed speculations about Max Verstappen’s possible departure from the team due to Adrian Newey’s imminent exit. Red Bull announced earlier this week that Newey, who was instrumental in designing Verstappen’s cars, will end his partnership with the team in March 2025. Verstappen expressed his desire for the team to stay together, and his father, Jos, expressed concerns that Red Bull may face difficulties without Newey.
Despite rumors of a power struggle and a potential Verstappen move, both Verstappen himself and Horner denied such intentions. Horner assured that Verstappen is content and happy in the team, surrounded by a talented group of engineers and driving the best car on the track. He emphasized that Verstappen’s satisfaction goes beyond contractual agreements and stems from the supportive environment and his exceptional performance as a driver.
The tension within Red Bull, which arose from an investigation into Horner’s behavior, led to speculation that Helmut Marko, an advisor to the team, could face suspension. Although it has been suggested that Verstappen’s contract includes a clause related to Marko, Horner dismissed any connection between Newey’s departure and Verstappen’s possible exit. He clarified that Verstappen’s contract remains confidential, but there are no clauses linking Verstappen to Newey. Horner emphasized that the planning process for Newey’s departure was well thought out and structured, ensuring continuity within the team.
