Jos Verstappen, father of three-time world champion Max, has warned that Red Bull will fall apart unless Christian Horner steps down as team principal.

The Dutchman's astonishing claim came as Horner sought to demonstrate that all is well, posing for somewhat awkward pictures with his wife, the former Spice Girl Geri, and Chalerm Yoovidhya, Red Bull's majority owner.

"There is tension here while he remains in position," Verstappen Snr told the Daily Mail. "The team is in danger of being torn apart," he continued. "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," he added.

Of course, Jos Verstappen has history, not for nothing did Glen Crompton and Rob Margeit, in their legendary Alternate F1 Championship, come up with the term "Verstappen-slappen", on account of the Dutch veteran's well documented temper and tendency to lash out.

His outburst follows the 'leak' of unverified documents to various members of the paddock, including the heads of both the FIA and F1, which purported to be messages between Horner and the member of staff who made the allegations of inappropriate behaviour. The leak coming just 24 hours after Red Bull had completed its investigation and concluding that the grievance had been dismissed.

The 'leak', and the pointed way in which it was targeted at certain individuals within the F1 community, gave the saga a whole new twist, and indicated an obvious agenda on someone's part.

Indeed, Horner posing with the majority owner of Red Bull appeared a clear indication that there is a definite divide over the matter between the Thai and Austrian sides of the company.

Asked if he was the source of the 'leak', Verstappen said: "That wouldn't make sense. Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here?"

"Obviously it's not been pleasant," said Horner in the aftermath of the race, which saw Max Verstappen get his 2024 off to a perfect start. "The unwanted attention, but the focus is now very much on the cars.

"My focus has very much been on what's going on track and the result today I think demonstrates where the whole team's focus is and we move onwards.

"I'm not going to comment on what motives, whatever person may have for doing this," he said of the 'leak'. "My focus is on this team, my family, my wife and going racing. I have the support of an incredible family, of an incredible wife, of an incredible team and everybody within that team and my focus is on going racing and winning races and doing the best that I can.

"It was a day about going racing, about the start of the season and about starting the season in the best possible way. The drivers did brilliantly, the team did brilliantly and yeah, it was the best possible start for the team, for our partners, for our shareholders and everybody within the group.

"I can't comment on what people are choosing to write," he added. "My focus is on the team, my family, and the people around me. And I have their full support, their full backing, and for me, it's about looking ahead and moving forward.

"There was a full, lengthy internal process that was completed by an independent KC. And the grievance that was raised was dismissed. End of. Move on."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 09/03/2024 3:56

"@ Ricardo-sanchez. IMO i see nothing simple in this. I may be seeing shadows where there are none but nevertheless everything in this 'camaign' appears to me to be more than mere opportunism. Let it roll....in the meantime Jeddah should be an excellent race given the miliseconds of separating margins and extreme pace."

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2. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 08/03/2024 17:46

"@kenji - if the leaked information is genuine, then the most likely scenario is that the evidence submitted to the internal enquiry was shared with external parties as an “insurance policy”. Then, when the outcome of the investigation went against the complainant, the third party released the “evidence” publicly. Motivation could be as simple as not wanting someone to get away with a perceived abuse of power. Of course, others with an agenda have certainly exploited the situation but that doesn’t mean the complainant and/or the ‘whistleblower’ had the same motivations."

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3. Posted by kenji, 08/03/2024 2:42

"@Ricardo-sanchez....The fact is, we don't know and nobody is saying if the 'docdump' is real! One would assume that these docs were made available to the original KC led investigation. If so then by releasing them to the public arena, they serve a secondary purpose. If they weren't included then the question arises, why not? Hard to not see the hand of someone or two intent on the 'political' assassination of CH. Who tends to gain from all this? Establish that and you're getting closer to the answer. Tricky......"

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4. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 07/03/2024 18:59

"@geordiemik @kenji - apparently, the complainant has now been suspended. If the leaked images in that Google Drive are genuine - and Horner & RBR seem keen not to refute their authenticity - then there’s really no argument about whether or not CH behaved inappropriately. The suspension was apparently for “dishonesty” which could mean she denied being involved in the leak but is suspected of having handed the information to someone outside RBR. Either way, I can’t see this issue disappearing any time soon. "

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5. Posted by kenji, 07/03/2024 0:29

"@ Geordiemik... You make some very valid points. Red Bull Gmbh did the correct thing and put in place an external investigation. It was the this body who issued the claim 'dismissal'. Why isn't Verstappen et al venting at the Board of Red Bull Gmbh? Why isn't she being investigated for false accusations? I think that the answer to those questions have very little chance of seeing the light of day! Unfortunately. If the Thai owners could make it all the way to Bahrein in a show of support for Red Bull yet Mintzlaff and his cohort made sure that they were well out of sight also says a great deal. Intestinal fortitude is a sp**** commodity in the Gmbh boardroom apparently."

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6. Posted by geordiemik, 06/03/2024 23:49

"Given that Horny Horner has apparently been cleared of whatever it was he was accused of, where does that leave the person that made the allegations against him?

Presumably she must have been exagerating things at least so is she now being investigated? Is she still employed by Red Bull? Are the rest of the staff dividing over whether to support her?

Just curious."

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7. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 06/03/2024 14:11

"@Spindoctor - Newey and Max will be headed to Aston Martin. Ford will stay with RBR, just keeping quiet for now."

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8. Posted by kenji, 06/03/2024 12:49

"@Spindoctor...'...allowing Jos and Jnr to break the contract if Horner goes'. I was under the impression that the break clause was related to Marko going and not Horner! I have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to make sense of all this hoo har surrounding Horner and his would be assassins and I've come to opinion that sans truthful facts it is just too complex to sort out. At face value some rather silly indiscretions appear to have taken place and it has been magnifed out of all proportion by the intrusion of many fringe players all out to commit mayhem for a few chosen people. I will simply await the conclusion ..... if ever there is one as the status quo can never return. I do think it can be safely labelled the No.1 . '24 SNAFU"

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9. Posted by Spindoctor, 06/03/2024 8:00

"Latest mildly credible suggestions from around & about are that Jos has information suggesting development of RBR 2026 PU is not going too well. That would significantly reduce the appeal of the fizzy drinks team & might also explain why Ford has gone a bit cool on their branding on the PU. It is further rumoured that Team Verstappen has a get-out clause in VMax's contract allowing Jos & Junior to break the contract if Horner goes.

If I were Jos I'd be more worried if Newey were to jump ship for 2026. VMax made his name driving under-powered RBRs quite successfully (if aggressively) & good chassis\aero is worth a lot of BHP....

All of this Machiavellian manoeuvring "makes sense" if you are sufficiently cynical about human nature & human frailty, but otherwise none of it is a good look."

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10. Posted by kenji, 06/03/2024 7:05

"@ Brighton Corgi....LOL I guess that's one way of looking at it!!!!"

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11. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 05/03/2024 17:44

"Horner's role at RBR is totally safe as long as palmares continue. He may be sleeping alone for the next 6 months though. He's got a real shit sandwich to eat with the misses."

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12. Posted by kenji, 05/03/2024 13:28

"Having just read an excellent analysis and summary of these events elsewhere I am now more than satisfied that there are other dissident players that see the removal of Horner as a way of achieving their diverse agendas. The fact that there were some complaints of 'coercive and controlling' activities was just a convenient platform upon which to launch the current exercise. IMO what we are witnessing is a major powerplay and it's not pretty. People will get hurt and all for what? It seems as though the racing has been relegated to a secondary activity by some and that's not what we all want to see. Many people don't like CH. That's fine but his achievements speak for themselves...that's why he's under attack from so many fronts. He needs to stay resolute and stare down the mob. Roll on Saudi."

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13. Posted by Spindoctor, 05/03/2024 12:06

"Now the accusations are "out there" & making lots of noise, Jos has worked-out that the sponsors might get cold feet (Ford, for example). If Sponsors do start to jump ship, then Horner will be out.

It's been suggested that part of the Verstappen family "plan" is to try & get Max to be the uncontested focus of attention, and\or to lever a bit more cash out of RBR. The latter sems to contradict the former: VMax is dependent on Newey's car to triumph, so if he were to stamp his foot & go to (say) Mercedes Championships might slip from his grasp, even if his (& Jos') pockets were brimming over with cash.....

Overall this smells to me of the mediocrities & corporate climbers trying to oust the real entrepreneur who co-created the business & built it up to today's dominance. All very unpleasant & whatever the damage to Horner, Formula 1 as a whole is hardly coming up smelling of roses."

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14. Posted by kenji, 05/03/2024 0:49

"What is most annoying is the hypocrisy. Why is the complainants name being suppressed but the alleged instigator has his name plastered in every nook and cranny the press can find irrespective of the motives that have yet to be fully established. That is just so wrong. The only fact that has been established is that, based on the original complaint, an independent and by all accounts intensive investigation,a legal opinion was sought and that opinion when delivered dismissed the original claim, as stated by RB GMBH. The RB racing team principal's reputation has been trashed by as yet unproven allegations. IMO it's quite disgusting. If a crime has been committed then the perpetrator needs to be dealt with according to the law and not by a lynch mob comprising of different actors with differing agendas but a common motive. I have first hand experience in alleged 'harassment' charges going back a very long time ago and at this point in time it's only got worse for anyone under attack. I don't see any woke promoted/sanctioned 'equality' being practised here. Negatives stick. "

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15. Posted by Malemoi, 04/03/2024 16:50

"Ban Tosstappen from the RB pit"

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Red Bull will "explode over Horner saga, warns Jos Verstappen

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