Christian Horner addresses rumors of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull exit
Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has publicly addressed speculation surrounding Max Verstappen’s future with the team, following a challenging start to the 2025 Formula One season . Despite Verstappen’s recent victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull has struggled to match the pace of rivals McLaren in the first four races, fueling rumours that Verstappen could look for a move elsewhere at the end of the year .
Rumors and concerns
Speculation intensified after Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko expressed serious concerns over Verstappen’s future with the team in the wake of his disappointing performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix . Marko’s comments led to widespread media reports linking Verstappen with potential moves to Mercedes, McLaren and Aston Martin for the 2026 season .
Horner’s response
In a recent interview with Sky Sports ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Horner sought to dispel rumors and clarify Verstappen’s commitment to Red Bull. He characterized the speculation as “noise” from outside the team and emphasized that Verstappen had reaffirmed his commitment internally:
“I think noise is exactly the right word to describe it. There’s been a lot of noise outside the team. Within the team, Max reaffirmed his commitment yesterday. We’re focused on making the car go faster. Max is part of that and a committed part of the team. The break is all speculation and listening.”
When pressed by Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle on whether he expected Verstappen to remain with Red Bull for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, Horner confidently replied: “Yes, absolutely.”
Refer to Marko’s comments
Horner was also asked to respond directly to Helmut Marko’s comments on Verstappen’s future. He gave a measured response, stating:
“Look, people will always have their concerns, but as a team, we’re very focused on fixing this car. If we fix the car, this won’t even become a point of discussion.”
Context: Ongoing tensions
Horner’s comments come amid a turbulent period for Red Bull Racing, marked by on-track struggles and off-track controversies . Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, previously warned that the team could be “ripped apart” if internal issues aren’t resolved . Despite these distractions, Horner and Verstappen have worked together at Red Bull for over a decade, building a highly successful partnership .
Conclusion
Christian Horner has moved to reassure fans and the F1 community that Max Verstappen remains committed to Red Bull Racing, dismissing rumors of a potential exit as mere speculation. Horner’s message is clear: the team’s focus is on improving the performance of its car, and Verstappen is an integral part of that effort .
