Following another impressive performance at the Saudi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen, the reigning F1 World Champion, is asserting his dominance at the Red Bull camp amidst the ongoing soap opera involving Christian Horner.
In the latest episode of this drama, Horner was captured in a behind-the-closed-doors moment with Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen. Jos Verstappen has now shared his perspective on that moment with Christian Horner.
Jos Verstappen talks on speculated rift with Christian Horner
On March 2nd, at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Red Bull’s Team Principal Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen–the father of Red Bull #1 Max Verstappen–was caught in a heated ‘verbal’ exchange, or it appeared to be a heated one, while Verstappen was putting on a spectacular show at the Sakhir Circuit.
In a recent interview, Jos Verstappen addressed his views on the incident captured in a short video. Regarding the speculated rift with Christian Horner, he clarified, “That was earlier, on Friday, before the race.”
“He was saying to me ‘Do you trust me? I will do everything for your son’, and we were talking with our hands, we didn’t have a fight. But on Friday we did have an argument in the office, and I walked out but, in the trailer, he came up to me and said ‘Congratulations, good race’,” Jos added.
🚨 | Jos Verstappen has once again spoken out again regarding the ongoing situation at Red Bull:
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) March 9, 2024
“I sympathise with the woman, with all that she went through, but we will see what happens.”
When asked if it was time to 'draw a line' under the situation, he said:
“I think it's… pic.twitter.com/bfNleIcoOV
During the same session, Jos Verstappen replied to Christian Horner’s ‘draw a line under it’ statement, which he uttered in the pre-race interview of the Saudi Arabian GP. “I think it’s too late for Christian to say, ‘leave me alone,'” he put forth, speaking about the Horner’s words.
“But, he has the support of the Thai owner so I think he will stay for the rest of the season. I’ve already said I think it is causing problems if he stays. I said it would be bad if he stayed, it really isn’t good for the team, this whole situation,” he concluded.
These ‘controversial’ words from Jos Verstappen come at a time when news is spreading that Christian Horner offered the female a ‘good load’ of money to hide the matter in the shadows.
Did Christian Horner offer hush money?
Earlier last month, it was being reported that Christian Horner and his representatives tried to ‘shoo off’ the female Red Bull employee, who is now suspended, by offering her over €760,000 ($ 835,770/£650,000) as a settlement’ money. The news of the ‘€760,000 financial settlement’ has again resurfaced recently with another major twist, which Red Bull will hate to hear.
🚨| Christian Horner allegedly paid the female employee who accused him of sexual harassment a severance payment of €700k.
— Ferrari News 🐎 (@FanaticsFerrari) March 9, 2024
This was increased to €1m by Red Bull, and the matter is now definitively closed.
🫤
The latest version of the news reports that Red Bull also offered a ‘€1 million’ financial proposition–in addition to Horner’s ‘€760,000’ offer–to the female employee to ‘close-off the matter’ once and for all.
From what SportsZion understands, the truth of this news still remains unconfirmed, and it is highly unlikely that it will be solidified with real proof in the future- neither by Red Bull, nor by the female employee.
Christian Horner will now pack his bags and fly to Melbourne, and lead the Red Bull crew on 24th March at the Australian Grand Prix- whether Jos Verstappen likes it or not.
Can Jos Verstappen ever shut up his mouth from Horner’s controversy? Are Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen mixed in a love triangle with the female employee? Let us know your thoughts in the comments sections below.
