A few hours after the success of his son Max at the Bahrain Grand Prix for the opening of the F 1 season, former Dutch driver Jos Verstappen let loose in the columns of the Daily Mail. For him, there is no doubt, the boss of the team, Christian Horner, must pack up, even if he has just been cleared of accusations of “inappropriate behavior” towards an employee.
“There is tension as long as it remains in place,” he explains. The team risks tearing itself apart. She can’t continue like this. It’s going to explode. He (Horner) plays the victim, when he is the one causing the problems. »
On Wednesday, the Austrian firm, well on its way to largely dominating the season, announced that its internal investigation had led it to clear the Briton of the facts with which he was accused.
Max Verstappen’s dad Jos calls for Christian Horner’s head as he claims Red Bull will ‘EXPLODE’ if Geri Halliwell’s shamed husband remains as team principal… despite the couple’s public display of unity in Bahrain pic.twitter.com/EfRYfchKhL
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) March 2, 2024
But the sending, shortly after, of an anonymous email containing WhatsApp messages allegedly written by Horner to journalists following F1, to motorsport officials and even to competing teams, relaunched the affair.
Jos Verstappen took advantage of the interview to deny any involvement in the media leaks which led to the indictment of Horner. It must be said that the paddock is wondering because it was the Dutch daily Telegraaf which revealed last month the complaint from a team employee for “inappropriate behavior” and the establishment of an internal investigation. ” That does not make sense. Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here? “, he assured.
Christian Horner, married to ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, present at his side on Saturday during the Bahrain Grand Prix and who defended him, has always denied the facts and said he was convinced after the Grand Prix that his position was not threatened by the fallout from the investigation.
“A comprehensive and lengthy internal procedure was conducted (by a lawyer external to Red Bull), and the grievance raised was rejected. End of story,” he also told the press in Bahrain. Obviously, this is not entirely the case…
