Christian Horner addresses rumors out of Bull by Max Verstappen Red Bull
The director of the Red Bull Racing team, Christian Horner, has publicly approached the speculation about the future of Max Verstappen with the team, after a challenging start for the 2025 season of Formula One. Despite the recent victory of Verstappen in the Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull has fought for matching the rhythm of the rivals McLaren in the first four races, feeding them. Rumors that Verstappen could look for a movement in another place at the end of the year.
Rumors and concerns
The speculation intensified after Red Bull’s advisor, Helmut Marko, expressed serious concerns about Verstappen’s future with the team following his disappointing performance in the Bahrein Grand Prix. Marko’s comments led to generalized media reports that link Verstappen with possible movements with Mercedes, McLaren and Aston Martin for the 2026 season.
Horner’s response
In a recent interview with Sky Sports before the Gran Abia Saudi prize, Horner sought to dissipate rumors and clarify Verstappen’s commitment to Red Bull. He characterized speculation as “noise” external to the team and emphasized that Verstappen had reaffirmed its commitment internally:
“I think the noise is exactly the right word to describe it, there has been a lot of noise outside the team. Within the Max team he reaffirmed his commitment yesterday, we are focused on making the car go faster, Max is part of that and is a compromised part of the team. The rest is all speculation and listening.”
When Martin Brundle of Sky Sports pressed it on whether he hoped that Verstappen remained with Red Bull for the 2026 Australia Grand Prix, Horner responded with confidence: “Yes, absolutely.”
Go to Marko’s comments
Horner was also asked to respond directly to Helmut Marko’s comments about Verstappen’s future. He gave a measured answer, declaring:
“Look, people will always have their concerns, but as a team we are very focused on solving this car. If we solve the car, this does not even become a point of discussion.”
Context: in progress
Horner’s comments arrive in the midst of a turbulent period for Red Bull Racing, marked by the struggles on the track and the controversies outside the track. Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, previously warned that the team could be “torn A very successful association.
Conclusion
Christian Horner has moved to reassure fans and the F1 community that Max Verstappen is still committed to Red Bull Racing, dismissing rumors of a possible exit as mere speculation. Horner’s message is clear: the team’s approach is to improve the performance of his car, and Verstappen is an integral part of that effort.
