Image Credit: Max Verstappen via Instagram
The Red Bull racer had his victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah during the weekend overshadowed by the ongoing story over the Horner saga.
In an interview with Sky, Verstappen said: “I think everyone knows that it’s important to have peace in the team and just focus on the driving aspect and the performance aspect.”
The story continues to develop with Red Bull boss, Christian Horner’s ‘sex texts’ scandal after a female colleague accused him of sending her inappropriate messages.
An internal investigation by Red Bull found no wrongdoing on Horner’s part and has since dismissed the woman who made the accusations.
The unnamed female colleague is now appealing the decision in the hopes that Horner is held accountable for his “inappropriate behaviour.”
Questions also linger over Verstappen’s future with the Red Bull team, as it is thought Helmut Marko, current director of the Red Bull F1 teams, was facing an internal investigation into his alleged involvement in the leaking of evidence of the Horner scandal.
Marko has since held a meeting with Red Bull GmbH Managing Director, Oliver Mintzlaff, and has been told no action will be taken against him.
Marko has the right to leave the team at any point on his own accord and it is believed Verstappen will follow him out the door if this is the case.
Verstappen was linked with Mercedes after he publicly sided with Marko, whilst Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff, suggested he would welcome Marko to the Silver Arrows.
Horner has said he will not stand in Verstappen’s way if he wishes to leave the team before his contract is up in 2028.
Horner said: "It's like anything in life, you can't force somebody to be somewhere just because of a piece of paper. If somebody didn't want to be at this team, then we're not going to force somebody, against their will, to be here.
"That applies whether it's a machine operator, or a designer, or somebody in one of the support functions that runs through the business.”
Horner believes that Max has commitment and passion for the team, with the racer being part of Red Bull since 18 years old.
A clause in Verstappen’s contract lets him leave if Marko was to exit, but whether Verstappen will make a move to Mercedes is unclear, as Wolff believes he will stick with whoever has the fastest car on the grid.
After his win at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Verstappen was questioned whether it was true or not that he would leave the team in the event Marko was to walk away, to which Verstappen said: "I always said that what is most important is that we work together as a team and that everyone keeps the peace," said Verstappen.
"And that's what we, I think, all agree on within the team.
"So hopefully from now on, that is also fully the case.
"Everyone is trying to focus in the same direction. And I think the positive out of all this is that it didn't hurt our performances. So it's a very strong team.”
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