Christian Horner: 'We won’t keep Verstappen if he wants out'

Red Bull's off-track power struggle

The Milton Keynes-based team has been rocked by reports of a power battle brewing within the Red Bull hierarchy, with motorsport advisor Helmut Marko's position under threat.

This turmoil has cast doubt over Max Verstappen's long-term commitment to the team, as the reigning triple world champion has been vocal in his support for Marko.

Speaking ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Verstappen left no room for ambiguity, stating,

"I've always clearly indicated that he [Marko] has to stay. I can't continue without him."

This strong statement was viewed as a political message to Red Bull's senior management, underlining the consequences of any action against Marko.

While Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, team principal Christian Horner acknowledged the limitations of a contract in retaining an unwilling driver.

"It's like anything in life: you can't force somebody to be somewhere just because of a piece of paper,"

Horner remarked, signaling a shift from his earlier stance of expecting Verstappen to see out his contract.

Horner insists the off-track issues have not impacted the team's relationship with Verstappen, stating,

"It's absolutely fine with Max. He's working well within the team. There's no tension, there's no stress."

However, the ongoing angst and public statements from Verstappen's father, Jos, criticizing Horner, have drawn frustration from senior Red Bull management.

Amidst the speculation surrounding Verstappen's future, Horner believes car performance will ultimately be the deciding factor.

"The best drivers always want to be in the best cars," he stated, emphasizing Red Bull's track record of delivering race-winning machinery for Verstappen.