2026-02-25 11:19:34
Christian Horner doesn’t think that Max Verstappen was “responsible” for his Red Bull sacking.
Horner was dismissed by Red Bull after 20 years as team principal last summer following months of internal disputes but he has rubbished claims that the four-time world champion and his father Jos Verstappen were behind his exit.
Speaking publicly about his departure for the first time in the new series of Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive, Horner said: “[Max Verstappen’s] father has never been my biggest fan.
“He’s been outspoken about me, but I don’t believe that the Verstappens were responsible in any way.”
Horner led Red Bull to eight drivers’ world titles and six constructors’ crowns during his time in charge and confessed that he felt a “real sense of loss” after his sacking – which he blames on Red Bull’s managing director Oliver Mintzlaff and the team’s former advisor Helmut Marko.
The motorsport executive said: “It was all rather sudden. I didn’t really get the chance to say a proper goodbye.
“I think this was a decision that was made by Oliver Mintzlaff with Helmut advising from the side-line.
“I think ultimately things changed within the business, within the group. The founder died, and after Dietrich [Mateschitz]’s death, I think probably I was deemed to have maybe too much control.”
Horner also revealed that his Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff got in touch following his sacking – even though the pair had a fierce rivalry as their teams fought on track.
The message from Wolff read: “I didn’t know what to say, because on one side you’ve been a real a******. But on the other hand, the sport will miss one of its main protagonists.
“Who should I fight? And ‘love to hate’, as you always said? Wolff and Horner have a combined 14 of the last 15 world championships. Not a bad joint statistic.”
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