Red Bull boss Christian Horner against Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s little Max Verstappen flirtation

Christian Horner (50) has grown tired of Toto Wolff’s (52) constant attempts to recruit Max Verstappen (26).

Tuesday 23 April at 18:37

– Everyone is waiting for what Max chooses to do, says Mercedes boss Toto Wolff about Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, according to Formula 1’s website.

Max Verstappen has won the championship three years in a row with Red Bull, and this year too he has had a superior start to the Formula 1 season.

Lewis Hamilton (39) is leaving Mercedes after the season and Wolff has made no secret of his desire for Verstappen to replace him.

– Are we able to persuade him? I don’t think it’s about persuasion, Max knows motorsport better than anyone. He will make decisions that are in his best interest, says Wolff.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner is not impressed by the statements.

– Why on earth would he want to leave this team? Mercedes is 4th in the Constructors’ Championship at the moment, so I think it would be better to spend its time focusing on its own team, rather than recruiting drivers, says Horner.

Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, but there has been speculation that the Dutchman could leave the team earlier, among other things as a result of The Horner caseChristian Horner was accused by a female employee of the Red Bull Formula 1 team of “controlling behaviour”. An independent lawyer conducted an internal investigation and concluded that Horner should be acquitted. But the woman has since appealed Red Bull’s decision, also to the international motorsport federation FIA..

– There are many factors that come into play when a driver chooses a team. From a rational point of view you can say, ‘Well, it’s the fastest car’, but I don’t think that’s the only reason drivers stay where they are,” Wolff says of Verstappen, adding:

– For simple types, it may be that the fastest car is the only thing you base your choice on, but some people have more in mind, and take more factors into account than that. And I think Max is a type who has more to him.

Horner was cleared in Red Bull’s investigation into him after he was accused of “controlling behaviour” towards a female colleague. However, the drama has not stopped afterwards. Inside Red Bull there is a big power struggle.

– I signed a long-term contract with the team in 2021. The only thing I have said since the start is that we want quiet and peaceful surroundings. Lately we’ve been talking about the car. I am very happy about that. As long as I’m happy with the team, there’s no reason to leave, said Verstappen after the weekend’s race in China.