By Joe Murphy
Max Verstappen is reportedly unhappy at Red Bull after all the issues surrounding Christian Horner and the investigations into his activities with a female employee. In crisis talks, Rell Bull senior figures have met with key personnel that includes the likes of Verstappen, to try and clear the air and diffuse the situation.
Horner still denies the claims, although leaks last week seem to seal his guilty verdict convincingly. Nevertheless, there are issues still going on behind the scenes at the Constructor’s Champions with their ‘Starboy’ not happy with the goings on at the team.
It is understood that the three-time World Champion was unhappy with the actions of his Team Principal and there was a clash of words between Horner and Max’s father; Jos Verstappen in Bahrain for the first race of the 2024 season last weekend.
There is a growing feeling that Horner’s position is untenable and there are rumours that he may even be absent for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend. Whilst Red Bull are winning on the track, it is an entirely different story off it.
Odds have been slashed for the Dutch driver to join Mercedes at the end of the year to replace the outgoing Lewis Hamilton. Whilst it is almost inconceivable that Verstappen could race for anyone else, stories like this only add fuel to the flames. Whether Max would leave Red Bull whilst enjoying unparalleled success is something that remains highly doubtful. However, sometimes happiness is more important and if conflict reaches boiling point, Toto Wolff could steam in and tempt the current World Champ away.
Whether Verstappen, Horner, or neither leave the team soon, remains to be seen. What is for sure is that this drama rolling onto Race week 2 in Saudi Arabia, does nobody any favours.
WHEEL2WHEEL REPORTS 