Max Verstappen’s father Jos has launched a exceptional assault on Crimson Bull boss Christian Horner, saying the group is “at risk of being torn aside” if he stays as group principal.
The youthful Verstappen’s victory in Bahrain got here after weeks of focus round Horner and a misconduct investigation launched after a lady employed by the F1 group made a grievance of inappropriate behaviour.
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Crimson Bull GmbH, the father or mother firm of the race group, dismissed that grievance on Wednesday.
An nameless e-mail with messages purportedly linked to the case have been leaked to the media the next day, however Horner has remained defiantly in his job.
Jos Verstappen, a former teammate of Michael Schumacher within the Nineties, has referred to as for Horner to go away the group.
“There may be rigidity right here whereas he stays in place,” Jos Verstappen instructed the Each day Mail.
“The group is at risk of being torn aside. It might probably’t go on the best way it’s. It’ll explode. He’s taking part in the sufferer, when he’s the one inflicting the issues.”
It’s unknown whether or not Verstappen’s opinion is shared by his son, who appears to be like like a snug favorite for a fourth world title in a row with the group this 12 months.
The Horner saga intensified as quickly as System One arrived on the Bahrain paddock for preseason testing per week earlier than the identical venue hosted the primary race of the 12 months.
Rumours rapidly unfold that Jos Verstappen has been concerned within the story turning into so public.
On that, Verstappen instructed the Mail: “That would not make sense. Why would I try this when Max is doing so nicely right here?”
Horner himself refused to be drawn on a query about somebody clearly wanting him out of the group.
“I am not going to touch upon what motives, no matter individual might have for doing this,” he stated, including that he had full help from inside the racing group and the broader Crimson Bull firm.
Jos Verstappen just isn’t an worker of Crimson Bull Racing however is sort of a everlasting fixture of the group’s F1 hospitality centre at each race.