Max Verstappen stresses on ‘working together’ as one team amid Red Bull’s unique situation, while Christian Horner adds his take.
Despite its dominant run in recent F1’s history, Red Bull is embroiled in an internal civil war. While publicly the message is ‘all is okay’, but there are persistent reports about conflicts which has forced Red Bull GmbH’s chiefs to attend races and make public appearances.
They have been to races before as well, but considering the situation they are in, the importance of its manifolds. After all the Horner saga, the Saudi Arabian GP saw fresh reports suggesting the departure of advisor Helmut Marko.
The news spread about potential suspension of Marko due to his involvement in Horner’s case, but the race day saw them pose together, whether under the parc ferme and or the celebratory team photos post their second 1-2 finish of 2024 F1 season.
Verstappen already his support for Marko, which was a lot more than what he has said for Horner. He reiterated about ‘working together as a team’ amid fresh rumours about his certain departure from Red Bull after the end of the 2024 F1 season.
“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. I think also mentally, what you can see from not only driver’s side, but also mechanics, engineers, everyone is there to do their job. And I think everyone, even when there is stuff going on or whatever, they’re just very focused on their job as they should be,” summed up Verstappen.
Horner, meanwhile, has played down about the Dutchman leaving, but notes that nobody can force a driver to stay if he/she wishes to leave at all cost. He stresses that no single individual is bigger than a team and harmony is key for a team’s success.
“You can never say never,” said Horner to media. “If a driver doesn’t want to be somewhere then they’ll go somewhere else. But I can’t see any reason why anybody would want to step out of this team. I think he’s got great support around him and he’s doing a wonderful job with a great car.
“No individual is bigger than the team, and we have a phenomenal car, we’ve got one seat open for next year and I’ve probably got 16 drivers desperate to be in that car next year. We all have a common interest, which is the performance of the team, and the team comes first for every single member from the very top to the very bottom.
“Without the team working in absolute harmony, it is impossible to achieve performances like this, but if an individual doesn’t want to be in the team, we don’t force people to be here. The people here, they work in this sport and this team because they want to be here because they’re passionate about what they do.
“That passion enables us to deliver not average results, but exceptional results – and it is that passion and commitment by every member that is the DNA of Red Bull Racing. That will continue not just this week, not next week, but to continue what we’ve done for 20 years for the next 20 years.”
Here’s Sergio Perez, Charles Leclerc on their fight
Here’s Christian Horner baring it all
Here’s F1 drivers on the off-track chatter
Here’s Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell on Jos and Mercedes matter
Here’s FIA on recent allegations
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