Verstappen breaks silence on Horner sacking rumours ahead of Emilia-Romagna GP
Max Verstappen has addressed the growing rumours surrounding Christian Horner’s possible sacking, just ahead of this weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. In an exclusive interview with Sky Italia, the Dutch Red Bull driver made his stance clear amid the turmoil his team is currently facing.
“I don’t know where these rumors come from”
Verstappen, 27, expressed his bafflement at reports circulating about the imminent departure of Horner, who has led the team since 2005. “Honestly, I have no idea where these rumours come from,” he said. “People ask me questions about it and I just say, ‘I have no idea who puts these things out there.’”
Horner is no stranger to controversy, having been in the spotlight since last year’s sexting scandal and his decision to drop young driver Liam Lawson. Despite this, Verstappen has maintained his firm support for the Briton, ignoring speculation spread by media outlets such as Austrian oe24 .
A difficult season for Red Bull
Things are not exactly stable at Red Bull. The team currently sits third in the Constructors’ Championship after six rounds, trailing leaders McLaren by 141 points. Verstappen, meanwhile, is 32 points behind current Drivers’ Championship leader Oscar Piastri.
The three-time world champion acknowledged that the team is not satisfied with its current performance. “Nobody is happy or satisfied with the performance,” he said. “You always want more, you always look to improve.”
Focused on performance, not rumors
Verstappen’s message was clear: the rumours do not affect his focus or that of the team. “For me, these rumours mean nothing,” he stated firmly. “We want to improve the car and the whole team is focused on that.”
Under Horner’s leadership, Red Bull have won six constructors’ and eight drivers’ titles, making him the most successful and longest-serving team principal on the current grid. However, external pressures and recent results are testing his leadership.
Criticism also for Verstappen
Verstappen himself has also been criticised for his low profile during the practice sessions leading up to the Grand Prix. Some analysts have suggested his lack of visibility may reflect a disconnect from the team or a lack of interest, something the driver categorically denies.
Key weekend in Imola
The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix is shaping up to be a turning point for Red Bull. The first free practice session will take place on Friday, followed by qualifying on Saturday and the main race on Sunday. Sky Sports will broadcast the event live, while other channels such as SunSport will provide live lap-by-lap coverage.
With the pressure mounting and the spotlight on Horner and Verstappen, all eyes will be on the team’s performance this weekend at the historic Imola circuit. Can Red Bull return to winning ways or will internal tension continue to dominate the season?
