Driver Max Verstappen's father Jos claims Red Bull is “in danger of being torn apart” if Horner remains as team principal.
Christian Horner's leadership has once again been called into question after driver Max Verstappen's father Jos claimed Red Bull is “in danger of being torn apart” if the under-fire team principal remains in his job.
A defiant Horner said on Saturday night he is “absolutely certain” he will remain as Red Bull boss for the remainder of the Formula One season after overseeing Verstappen leading a one-two finish against team-mate Sergio Perez in the first round in Bahrain.
Horner's work has faced intense scrutiny in recent weeks following allegations of misconduct made against her by a female colleague. Horner has always denied the allegations.
However, Jos Verstappen, Max's father and retired driver, stated that “there is tension” in the Red Bull team in comments he made to the Daily Mail newspaper after the race.
“The team is in danger of disintegrating. It can't continue as it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems,” she stated.
During an extraordinary week in Bahrain, Horner was exonerated by Red Bull Racing's parent company, Red Bull GmbH, following an internal investigation into allegations of “inappropriate behavior.”
But hundreds of WhatsApp messages, which appeared to have been exchanged between Horner and the whistleblower, were leaked to the F1 world.
Jos, the 51-year-old father of Red Bull's three-time world champion, has denied reports that he is trying to orchestrate Horner's dismissal.
“That wouldn't make sense,” he said. “Why would she do that when Max is doing so well here?”
Horner walked hand in hand with his wife Geri Halliwell in the paddock an hour and 45 minutes before Saturday's race.
Red Bull's majority shareholder, Thai billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya, also joined the duo on the team terrace in a public show of support for Horner.
After the checkered flag fell, Horner was asked if he is confident of remaining as Red Bull team principal for the remainder of the season. He replied, “Absolutely.”
He continued: “I have the support of an incredible family, an incredible wife, an incredible team and everyone within that team.
“And my focus is on competing, winning races and doing the best I can.
“It was a day to start the season in the best possible way. My focus is on this team, my family, my wife and racing.”
Horner was also questioned about the leaked Google file that was sent from an anonymous email account to 149 members of the F1 paddock, including FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and the other nine team managers on the grid, as well as members of the media.
Horner said: “I am not going to comment on anonymous speculative messages from an unknown source. I am not going to comment on what reasons each person may have for doing this.
“Obviously it hasn't been pleasant with so much unwanted attention, but the focus is mainly on the cars and what is happening on the track and today's result shows where the attention is.
“There was a lengthy and comprehensive internal process which was completed by an independent KC and the complaint that was raised was dismissed. End of. Move on.”
Horner will be in the spotlight again in just four days, when the cars take to the track in practice for the next round in Saudi Arabia.
