Max Verstappen has asserted that the latest ongoing feud between his father Jos and Red Bull Formula 1 boss Christian Horner in Austria “could have been avoided”.
The latest flashpoint between the two derives from Verstappen Sr claiming Horner wanted to stop him from driving in the annual Legends parade at the Red Bull Ring.
Verstappen Sr, who was meant to drive the 2012 RB8 but has since withdrawn, labelled Horner “childish” and also expressed that he was “finished” with his son’s boss.
Earlier this term, Verstappen Sr was adamant that Horner remaining at the helm would “tear apart” the team prior to the Red Bull Chief being cleared from allegations.
Asked to comment on the row between the two, Verstappen, who won the Austria Sprint race to extend his championship lead, insisted that it shouldn’t have occurred.
“Well, I mean, actually, of course, it’s not nice,” he admitted. “I think not for myself, not for my dad, not for Christian, not for the team.
“Of course, you know, you don’t want these things to happen. I think, yeah, my dad has been quite clear about, you know, the reason behind it.
“And of course, I can understand, you know, his opinion on that, because at the end of the day, you know, he gets asked to drive the car, finds out that he’s not wanted to drive the car.
“Well, my dad actually doesn’t care about driving the car, but he got asked and said, ‘please, you know, do it for the fans, Dutch fans, blah, blah, blah’.
“Red Bull, we have a good relationship with, you know, a home track. So I understand.
“On the other hand, you know, I’m here, of course, to focus on the performance side of things.
“So I want a good relationship with everyone. But of course, this scenario could have been avoided.”
It certainly seems that Jos is the real trouble maker in all of this Red Bull controversy. He couldn’t keep his mouth shut back during the allegations against Horner, and can’t seem to realize that independent opinions have closed that off.
I have to wonder if at some level Jos isn’t just jealous of his son’s success: A sad thing to say, but it would fit with what we can see and hear.