Max Verstappen is alleged to have refused a request to publicly again his Red Bull boss Christian Horner.
World champion Verstappen was victorious on the opening race weekend of the season in Bahrain, which was overshadowed by the storm surrounding Horner. He was cleared final week of any wrongdoing following an investigation into his behaviour surrounding an unnamed feminine colleague.
But a leak of alleged messages and pictures reignited the controversy simply 24 hours later. Verstappen has up to now declined to place his assist behind Horner, regardless of Dutch outlet De Telegraaf claiming he was requested to by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
READ MORE: Max Verstappen’s dad accuses Christian Horner of ‘enjoying the sufferer’ in explosive feedback
READ MORE: Christian Horner opens up about future with Red Bull with defiant six-word response
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Their report, backed by the BBC, states Ben Sulayem approached him in parc ferme after qualifying on Friday (March 1). It’s then that the 62-year-old is claimed to have recommended Verstappen converse out and defend Horner.
Ben Sulayem lined his mouth so his phrases could not be lip learn, however close by photographers had been capable of pay attention in and overhead the request – which Verstappen has didn’t fulfil.
When he was requested about Horner, the Dutchman replied: “From my side, and I think what I can see also from the mechanics and the engineers, we are fully focused on the car and the performance here during the weekend.
(Image: Getty Images)
(Image: Getty Images)
“And that’s how it should be, I think, and that’s what we continue to do, because it’s not our business. We’re not particularly involved in that.”
His father Jos, nevertheless, hasn’t held his tongue after falling out with Horner in Bahrain. He referred to as for him to step down from his position as staff prinicipal, telling the Daily Mail: “There is tension here while he remains in position.
“The staff is in peril of being torn aside. It cannot go on the best way it’s. It will explode. He is enjoying the sufferer, when he’s the one inflicting the issues.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Jos denied being the supply of the WhatsApp leak which has left Horner’s place extra weak than ever, including to De Telegraaf: “Why would I do that?
“Max has a contract with Red Bull till 2028, is performing nice and feels at residence right here. I’ve little interest in that in any respect.”
Ben Sulayem has also admitted the situation “is damaging the game” while speaking to the Financial Times. But he insisted they wouldn’t “soar the gun”, with no grievance having been lodged to the FIA’s compliance officer.