Will Max Verstappen leave Red Bull for 2025?

Verstappen-Horner fallout
Internal conflict
Adding fuel to the fire
Special contract clause
Power struggle
Peace?
Job on the line
A female colleague
Fake news?
Ongoing investigation
Serious allegations
Team in chaos
Family infighting
Bad timing
Should Horner leave?
A veteran leader
Is this the end?
Verstappen-Horner fallout

What once looked like an unstoppable winning duo that would last many years is now on the verge of total collapse! The Red Bull garage is engaged in an internal 'civil war', and Max Verstappen might be looking for an alternative for 2025, away from all the drama.

 

Internal conflict

Following Horner's private investigation, the former female employee who was allegedly the victim has been suspended from the team. The great performance of Max Verstappen currently masks the team's fragility, but the current state of Red Bull can't go like this much longer.

Adding fuel to the fire

According to Sky Sports, a week after Verstappen's father, Jos, further ignited focus on the internal situation at Red Bull, there are now talks regarding Verstappen's future. He was spotted talking to Mercedes Toto Wolff in Bahrain after the race!

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Special contract clause

According to The Independent, if Helmut Marko (Red Bull's long-term motorsport advisor) were to depart the team, a break clause in Verstappen's contract could be triggered, allowing him to leave Red Bull. Verstappen's future with Red Bull seems tied to Helmut Marko.

Power struggle

Max Verstappen is stuck in the middle of a very ugly split. Nevertheless, Max has a great relationship with Helmut, who saw him grow as a 17-year-old debut driver in 2015. His current contract has him tied to the Red Bull team until 2028...

Peace?

According to Sky Sports, Max Verstappen has expressed that "everyone keeps the peace" moving forward at Red Bull. However, there seem to be too many independent interests at play, which will only jeopardize the team.

Job on the line

According to MailOnline, a series of allegations of a sexual nature relating to Horner invaded the Red Bull paddock. Documents were leaked to the press, underlining Horner's affair with a Red Bull employee.

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"Controling behavior"

Furthermore, MailOnline reports an alleged source within the Red Bull team claims Horners is under scrutiny for his "incredible controlling behavior."

A female colleague

The Spanish publication Marca reports on the incident, claiming 70 documents were leaked alongside various photos which incriminate Horner.

Fake news?

Naturally, Horner came out to deny the allegations and said: "I completely deny these claims," however it was not enough to prevent a full-blown independent investigation, as also revealed by Sky Sports.

Ongoing investigation

Red Bull Austria, owner of the F1 team, said in an official statement: "After becoming aware of recent allegations, the company initiated an independent investigation. This investigation, which is already underway, is being carried out by an external specialized lawyer."

Serious allegations

The allegations are being treated seriously by Red Bull chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff. Nevertheless, Horner's lawyers claim much of the evidence seemed to be fabricated against Horner, to push him out of Red Bull.

Team in chaos

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf describes the situation as 'an internal riot at Red Bull Racing'. The team that saw Max Verstappen win three consecutive World Championships is in shambles, regardless of achieving their first podiums this season.

Family infighting

According to The Daily Mail, Christian Horner is the victim of an internal fight within the broader Red Bull family. Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz was an outspoken admirer of Horner, but ever since he died in 2022, many believe the Red Bull team principal is now exposed to forces who want him out.

Bad timing

Horner's defenders claim the accusations are smears aimed at unsettling him and his image at the paddock. However, Jos Verstappen believes the Red Bull team runs a risk of being torn apart if Horner stays. "It's going to explode. There will be tension if he remains in the team," shared Jos during an interview for Autosport.

Should Horner leave?

"He acts as the victim when he is the one causing problems," added Jos Verstappen during his interview. This left many Red Bull fans puzzled and wondering, should Horner leave?

A veteran leader

The former English driver was appointed team principal back in 2005 and became the youngest team principal at the time. During his debut year, he earned 34 points in the championship, which was a huge improvement on the 9 points they scored the previous year.

Is this the end?

Will this mean the end of Horner's Red Bull legacy? After nearly two decades under the Austrian racing team, what will this mean for the team's cohesion ahead of the new season? Will this have an impact on Max Verstappen's future at Red Bull? Let us know what you think!

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