Max Verstappen’s dad has accused Christian Horner of “playing the victim” because the saga across the Red Bull chief continues to rumble on.
Jos Verstappen spent eight seasons in F1 within the Nineteen Nineties and early-2000s. He’s nonetheless a daily within the paddock on raceday as the daddy of reigning world champion Max, who acquired his 2024 marketing campaign off to a flyer with victory in Bahrain.
However, the season-opening Grand Prix has been overshadowed by the furore surrounding Horner. The Brit, 50, was cleared earlier this week over allegations of inappropriate behaviour in direction of a feminine colleague.
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READ MORE: Geri Halliwell at Bahrain GP hand-in-hand with Christian Horner regardless of ‘leaked messages’
He was cleared of these allegations by Red Bull following an inner investigation by the Milton Keynes workforce. One day after he was cleared, a collection of alleged non-public messages from Horner to the unnamed colleague have been then leaked.
The alleged WhatsApp texts and images have been launched to quite a few journalists and key figures within the sport on Thursday. The alleged messages and photographs, which have been seen by Daily Star Sport, are mentioned to have left Horner’s spouse and Spice Girl star Geri Halliwell “humiliated.”
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Halliwell travelled to Bahrain to be by her husband’s facet for the Bahrain Grand Prix as they placed on a present of unity. Horner reiterated his dedication to Red Bull however refused to touch upon the alleged leaked messages. He has all the time maintained his innocence.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he maintained that he could be on the pit wall for subsequent weekend’s second Grand Prix of the season in Saudi Arabia. But Verstappen’s dad Jos has now had his say on the state of affairs, warning that the workforce may very well be “torn apart.”
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He instructed the Mail: “There is tension here while he remains in position. The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”
Verstappen snr’s feedback will come as a blow to Horner as he seems to be to maneuver on from one of the vital tumultuous week’s in current F1 historical past. “I will not comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate I have always denied the allegations,” Horner’s Thursday assertion learn. “I revered the integrity of the impartial investigation and totally cooperated with it each step of the best way.
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“It was a thorough and fair investigation conducted by an independent specialist barrister, and it has concluded dismissing the complaint made. I remain fully focused on the start of the season.”
Asked if he would nonetheless be in his position as workforce principal for subsequent weekend’s race in Saudi Arabia, Horner replied on Saturday: “Absolutely. I’ve always been confident I’ll be here.”