Red Bull ‘in danger of being torn apart’ if Christian Horner stays, says Max Verstappen's father
Max Verstappen’s father Jos has warned Red Bull are “in danger of being torn apart” if Christian Horner stays as team principal.
Verstappen Snr made the comments after his son cruised to victory at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
“There is tension here while he remains in position,” Verstappen Snr told Mail Sport.
“The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can't go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”
Horner was this week cleared following an internal investigation into his behaviour towards a female colleague.
Responding to Verstappen Snr's comments, a Red Bull Racing spokesperson told the PA news agency on Sunday: "There are no issues here. The team are united and we are focused on racing."
Horner, who has led Red Bull since 2005, denied the allegations.
The messages he allegedly sent to a female employee were leaked on Thursday.
Verstappen Snr has also denied that he was the source of the leaks concerning Horner.
Talking to the De Telegraaf newspaper in the Netherlands, Verstappen Snr said: “But why would I do that? Max has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, is performing great and feels at home here. I have no interested in that at all.”
Verstappen Snr told BBC Sport he had made the comments to the two newspapers after a falling out with Horner in Bahrain.
The BBC claim he added his son had seen the comments and did not say anything.