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Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Christian Horner opens up on Max Verstappen's future at Red Bull amid doubts - and sends warning to star's father Jos after feud
Christian Horner insists he has no fears over Max Verstappen 's commitment to Red Bull despite mounting unease over his future. Verstappen is contracted with Red Bull until 2028 but in April their key advisor Helmut Marko, who is also a mentor to the Dutchman, admitted the team had 'great concerns' over whether he would stay. He will be allowed to leave this summer if he finishes lower than third in the drivers' standings due to a clause in his contract. The four-time champion sits third, 26 points ahead of fourth-placed George Russell, going into Sunday's Canadian GP. Mercedes and McLaren both tried to lure him last year, though Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff admitted in March that their interest in him had cooled. Verstappen's father Jos had a blazing row with Horner last year, claiming the team would 'explode' if he remained in post after allegations of 'coercive behaviour' towards a female member of staff, and indicating that his son could leave. Horner was cleared after an internal investigation. Given all of this, is Horner not afraid Verstappen could leave? 'No, he has always been loyal to the team and Red Bull in general. We have grown together,'' Horner told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. Verstappen's mentor Helmut Marko said the team had 'great concerns' over his future 'He came here as a teenager and is now a 27-year-old father and four-time world champion. With Max, you know where you stand. I still think he feels very good here. 'For me, relationships are more important than contracts. If you have to point to a contract, it mainly shows that a relationship doesn't work. A contract is something you sign and that contains principles, but then it disappears in a drawer. After that, you only refer to it when you have a problem. There will always be commotion in this paddock around a driver of his stature and talent.' Over Wolff's attempt to woo Verstappen, and McLaren team principal Zak Brown's call to the driver's manager, he said: 'They wouldn't be doing their job properly if they didn't. But that doesn't automatically mean Max will leave. It's just part of Formula 1.' And on his star driver's father Jos, he said: 'I think it's always important to look forward together. Jos is right. I have enormous respect for everything he has done for Max. 'And we must not forget that we have to do it together. This is one of the most competitive sports in the world. We will only succeed in challenging McLaren if we work together as a team,' he warned. Red Bull have been left in the dust this year and sit fourth in the constructors' standings. They have fewer than half the points of dominant party McLaren but closely trail Ferrari and Mercedes. Horner's outfit has had manifold issues with the car this season after legendary designer Adrian Newey walked out to join Aston Martin. And Verstappen's two team-mates, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, have also been off the pace to contribute to their plummet in the standings. The sport regulation changes will have a huge impact in 2026 and Red Bull are developing their own engine for the first time in collaboration with Ford. In light of that, Horner admitted to De Telegraaf: 'I really believe we will be in a competitive position. But it would be naive and almost disrespectful towards Mercedes, Ferrari and Honda to think that we will set the standard in our first year. 'We have never built an engine and have not driven a lap. But I am confident that we have the right people on board to deliver. It will undoubtedly take time and be a steep learning curve. For the whole team, 2026 will be a reset. It is part of Red Bull's DNA to embrace risks.'
Top Gear
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Isack Hadjar's impressive F1 start has surprised his own team
Interview Even RB's bosses can't believe the rookie has been this good this quickly Skip 6 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Isack Hadjar might well be the standout F1 rookie of 2025: not only has he survived being a Red Bull junior driver for longer than five minutes, the 20-year-old Frenchman has reached Q3 six times and outscored his more experienced teammate(s) by 21 points to four so far. Magnifique! That's partly down to a best finish of sixth in Monaco, which – let's be real here – isn't exactly a safe, cuddly environment for infant F1 drivers still learning how to walk. Even Max Verstappen had a couple of big crashes in Monte Carlo before he properly mastered it. Advertisement - Page continues below But Hadjar nailed it first time, and heading into Canada this weekend he's now on a run of three straight top 10 finishes. Not even his own team thought he'd hit the ground running like this. 'If we were telling you that we were expecting that, we would be lying,' says team principal Laurent Mekies, sitting down with TG at the Miami Grand Prix a few weeks ago. CEO Peter Bayer chips in: 'We would have signed him last year!' You might like Advertisement - Page continues below But while the global spotlight was beaming down on the second Red Bull seat, hardly anyone was paying attention to who'd end up in the 'other' RB. And Hadjar's number one fan at the time? Only Red Bull's never-sugar-coat-anything motorsport adviser, Helmut Marko. 'In all fairness, Helmut already last year said he did [expect Hadjar to be fast],' says Bayer. 'He was adamant about it. 'He is the kid that will have the speed, that will have the confidence, that will have the ability', and he was very, very clear from probably halfway through the season when the Daniel discussion started. 'Helmut said 'Look, for me it's no doubt: [signing him is] what we have to do'.' Surprised? You'll remember that Hadjar's first race ended in tears – literally – after he crashed out on the formation lap in Australia back in March, and Marko later called his emotions 'embarrassing'. Which wasn't brilliant PR. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. But Bayer – who, like Marko, is Austrian – reckons the 82-year-old sounded harsher than intended because he'd been interviewed in German. 'What he said, the word does not directly translate into 'embarrassing', actually,' he explains. 'It's one level below, and it's something that you would use in your family more than in an official statement.' Mekies adds: 'The truth is, Helmut was the biggest supporter of Isack from day one. He's probably the one that was the least surprised by how extraordinary he's been. 'And already in Melbourne, all of us, including Helmut, were massively, massively impressed by how he had performed on Friday and on Saturday. 'So, the comment is the comment. But if you had asked him at the end of the Melbourne weekend to rate this first weekend in terms of speed, it would have been sky high.' Visa Cash App Racing Bulls' line-up (that's the only time we'll write the name out in full, we promise) looks fairly settled for now, but recent form suggests there only has to be a medium-sized crisis somewhere along the ladder for that to change. How does the team help Lawson bounce back from being chewed up by the senior squad? 'It's no different with Liam than with all the other guys,' says Mekies. 'All we do all day is try to build an environment where our people – drivers, engineers, staff – can express themselves at best. And that's what we're trying to do with Liam.' At this precise moment Hadjar and Lawson tiptoe past RB's Hard Rock Stadium hospitality tent, each carrying... a giant water pistol. As you do. Team bonding in action? 'That's what they need!' laughs Bayer, and Mekies quips: 'It's probably part of the programme!' He carries on: 'But yeah, in the end there is some truth in it, you know? You need to feel good to perform well. And it's not only for the drivers, it's for everyone. And these guys, they need to be able to push in the car, and if they are not comfortable in the car to push then the performance will not come. 'So what we are focused on right now is just to make sure we are able to give him a car he's able to push with. If he is able to push, we think the speed level will be the right one.'
News.com.au
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Red Bull's ruthlessness is coming back to bite as junior team's executive pleads against driver's promotion
Driving alongside Max Verstappen in Formula 1 is quickly becoming a death sentence. Not because the Dutchman's aggressive racecraft, but because of the bizarre dynamic that has turned into a curse at Red Bull Racing. As we've seen over the past few years, once someone is tapped on the shoulder and asked to step into the shadow of one of the modern day greats, their career takes a handbreak turn towards the portaloos. Isack Hadjar is the latest to be thrust into the conversation to join Verstappen after Yuki Tsunoda's less-than-impressive run following his abrupt takeover of Liam Lawson earlier this year. The 20-year-old Hadjar has more than turned heads in his debut season with Red Bull's junior outfit, Racing Bulls. He's shown composure beyond his years and snagged some handy points in the process, racing wheel-to-wheel with some of the sport's greats. He's scored in more than half of his races since his nightmarish exit on debut in Australia, dragging the car to an impressive sixth in Monaco. That effort even earned him praise from Red Bull executive Helmut Marko, who very recently humiliated the rookie on his debut by describing his tears in Australia as 'embarrassing'. We got another glimpse into the inner workings of the Red Bull behemoth this week when Racing Bulls chief executive Peter Bayer publicly begged the senior team to steer clear from promoting Hadjar. 'For heaven's sake, don't take this talent away from us too soon,' he said, per Swiss-German publication Blick 'He should get to know the whole business by the end of 2026. 'Until then, we'll just have to handcuff him!' 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg also warned Hadjar to be wary of the curse. 'If I was Hadjar now, if ever the team starts to mention [a promotion], I would literally decline,' Rosberg said while commentating at last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. 'Decline as hard as you possibly can. 'Because he's doing such a great job there with the [Racing Bulls], he's in a great position. Just flat decline and say: 'No way.' 'You need to do that. Decline.' Red Bull's ruthlessness is biting back Red Bull's impatience has been put on full display this year and it has soured the waters with many fans of the sport. Hailed with pre-season fanfare and a flashy Red Bull promo blitz, Lawson was dropped after just two races. He failed to come close to Max's times in the first two weekends and wasn't given a sniff of confidence to improve. Tsunoda had long been pushed by Honda and Red Bull as a future star. But in seven races, he has scored just seven points, crashed out early, and been left floundering in Q1 far too often for Red Bull's liking. Before them came Sergio 'Checo' Perez, the Mexican veteran who was eviscerated online for failing to match Verstappen's alien pace. And yet, Checo came second in the championship in 2023 — a result that now looks positively herculean when compared to his short-lived successors. He held back Charles Leclerc in critical team moments, helped secure Red Bull's Constructors' dominance, and played team chess with discipline. Perez wasn't underperforming so much as he was surviving and he got the raw end of Red Bull's ruthlessness, which ended up leaving him without a seat for 2024. Verstappen tipped to drop bombshell Meanwhile, Verstappen has been sensationally tipped to quit Red Bull at the end of the season by a former team mechanic. He has been linked with an exit from the Red Bull garage, with a team transfer to the likes of Mercedes or Aston Martin. But ex-Red Bull mechanic Calum Nicholas believes Verstappen could quit F1 entirely once he wins a fifth World Drivers Championship. Nicholas believes Verstappen is still in the fight for the 2025 crown and will cut ties with the sport after going five-straight. 'I think Max is going to win the Drivers' this year, and then I think he's going to call it a day,' he said. Despite his answer, the mechanic insisted he didn't 'know anything' extra about Verstappen's career plans. 'To not back Max is just like lunacy, I think. The guy is just really really good,' he said. 'Not in terms of just his technical skill and his talent, but I've watched Max grow into this guy that can do everything. 'He does everything well now.'
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Red Bull requests FIA superlicence exemption for F1 junior
While Red Bull Racing's reserve drivers and junior talents are currently in the spotlights due to Max Verstappen's eleven penalty points, it has emerged that Red Bull submitted a request for a superlicence exemption for Formula 2 racer Arvid Lindblad. According to information obtained by Red Bull's request will be discussed next week during the upcoming FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Macau. Advertisement It's important to note, however, that this request is not directly related to Verstappen's penalty situation and was submitted well before the Dutchman's tally of penalty points hit 11, as Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko clarified. Lindblad is currently competing in Formula 2 and meets all other requirements for a superlicence – the document required to take part in official F1 sessions. He has accumulated enough superlicence points in junior formulas, although drivers can formally receive it only once they turn 18. This rule was introduced following Max Verstappen's remarkably early F1 debut at the age of 17, when he didn't yet have a driving licence. To prevent similar situations, the FIA implemented a minimum age as part of the superlicence system, which aspiring F1 drivers must now meet. Following in Antonelli's footsteps? Last year, however, the door was slightly reopened for talents under 18, when Mercedes requested an exemption for Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The process of permitting the Italian to test its F1 machinery was similar to the steps Red Bull is taking now. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes F1 W15 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes F1 W15 Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images Advertisement It led to a revision of the FIA International Sporting Code, specifically article 13.1.2. Appendix L, which now states: "At the sole discretion of the FIA, a driver judged to have recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition may be granted a superlicence at the age of 17 years old." Since Lindblad has already earned enough points before his 18th birthday and currently sits third in the Formula 2 standings as a rookie – with two race wins, including the feature race in Barcelona – he appears to qualify under this clause. The FIA will discuss Red Bull's request next week, when it is on the agenda for the meeting in Macau. If approved, Lindblad would be allowed to participate in F1 practice sessions and could even serve as a stand-in for one of the regular drivers. This could offer Red Bull an extra option given its current situation as Verstappen is teetering on the edge of a one-race ban from the series. If the Dutchman receives a suspension and Red Bull decides to promote one of the Racing Bulls drivers, Lindblad could theoretically replace either Isack Hadjar or Liam Lawson at the sister team. Advertisement In addition to Lindblad (if the FIA grants the exemption), Red Bull still has Ayumu Iwasa available as a reserve driver. Read Also: Who could replace Max Verstappen at Red Bull if he lands F1 race ban? How Max Verstappen earned 11 penalty points in 11 months Lindblad turns 18 on August 8, a few days after the Hungarian Grand Prix, meaning the British-Swedish driver would be eligible for his superlicence during the F1 summer break regardless. To read more articles visit our website.
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Christian Horner breaks silence on ‘flattering' Ferrari rumours after being tipped to join Lewis Hamilton at F1 giants
CHRISTIAN HORNER has shut down rumours of a move to Ferrari. The Red Bull boss was linked with Lewis Hamilton's team with Ferrari chairman John Elkann said to be a huge admirer of the British 51-year-old. 2 Horner is one of the most successful team principals in F1 history, overseeing eight drivers' titles and six constructors' championships at Red Bull. He most recently signed a new deal in 2021 but is out of contract next year, sparking speculation about his future. When asked if Ferrari contacted him and if it was a job he would ever consider, he replied: 'Of course it's always flattering to be associated with other teams but my commitment 100 per cent is with Red Bull. 'It always has been and certainly will be for the long-term. There's a bunch of speculation always in this business. 'People coming here, going there or whatever. I think people within the team know exactly what the situation is. "My Italian is worse than Flavio [Briatore's] English, so how on earth would that work?' There has been plenty of infighting at Red Bull in recent years involving Max Verstappen's dad Jos and senior adviser Helmut Marko. Four-time world champion Verstappen even declared that he would quit the team if Marko was sacked following rumours he might be suspended. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 2 A recent clash between the pair saw them support different drivers for the No2 spot following Sergio Perez's departure. Marko is said to have preferred Liam Lawson while Horner was keen on Franco Colapinto after he replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams.
