Max Verstappen launches impassioned defence of his father

Max Verstappen right now made an impassioned defence of his father Jos, telling the world: ‘He’s not a liar.’ 

The triple world champion was responding to Verstappen Snr’s incendiary feedback in Mail Sport on Sunday, by which he mentioned Red Bull would ‘explode’ if Christian Horner stayed in put up as staff principal despite the scandal that surprised Formula One.

Asked forward of Saturday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix whether or not his father regretted his feedback, Verstappen mentioned: ‘I have not asked him that but my dad, from how I know him from go-karting, is very outspoken, and he is not a liar, that is for sure. That is what I can say about things.

‘My dad and I are very close. We call every day. At the other end, I am not the guy who likes to speak a lot about certain stuff and I just want to focus on the driving. If there are issues, we try to resolve it within the team.’

Horner, 50, has vowed to stay in £8million-a-year job after being cleared of ‘coercive behaviour’ in direction of a feminine colleague – although his place was broken when a unprecedented e mail – despatched anonymously to key figures with F1 – revealed he exchanged sexually suggestive WhatsApp messages with the worker.

Red Bull star Max Verstappen (above) has made an impassioned defence of his father Jos

Jos Verstappen (proper) claimed Red Bull will ‘explode’ if Christian Horner stays on the staff

Vertappen added: ‘I don’t see myself in F1 with out my Dad and (supervisor) Raymond Vermeulen.’ 

Rumours circulated that Verstappen Snr briefed towards Horner out of some form of vendetta. He has denied that emphatically to Mail Sport. Max mentioned: ‘The only one who knows that is my dad himself. People will make up and speculate and think they know why he said certain things, but he is the only one who knows.

‘Social media is there to speculate and make up stuff and there is not much I can do about that.

‘I am not angry about that because I know what my dad is and how he is like.’

Verstappen didn’t supply such unequivocal backing to Horner – although he did name from some peace to interrupt out to permit him to get on with racing. He received the season opener in Bahrain and is aiming for his nineteenth win in 20 outings on Jeddah’ super-quick monitor this weekend.

He mentioned: ‘Everyone in general, even if you have arguments or not, there are things that can be worked out. Everyone is man enough and respectful enough anyway.

‘I have not always agreed with everything that has happened – and I am not talking about lately – just in general in F1 and that is where sometimes it is good to have a discussions. You might agree to disagree, that is what happens in a relationship.’