Max Verstappen is still in touch with Christian Horner, the former Red Bull team principal who was fired in July. The Dutch driver reveals it was tough to see the Brit leave after the British GP, especially since Horner “really went through fire for me,” Verstappen says. The ex-team boss wishes the Dutch racer success every race weekend.
After two decades of loyal service, Christian Horner’s Red Bull career came to an abrupt end last July. The Brit was ousted as team principal, with Laurent Mekies stepping in to take the reins. This drastic move by the Austrian team seemed to pay off, as Red Bull bounced back from a disappointing first half of the season. Max Verstappen even staged an impressive comeback in the drivers’ championship, though he fell just two points short of clinching his fifth world title in Abu Dhabi.
“It wasn’t going well for the whole team,” Verstappen told Viaplay, reflecting on the atmosphere that led to the leadership change. “In terms of results, there was some unrest in the team, and when things don’t go well for a long time… eventually, the shareholders wanted change too, as they were not satisfied with how things were going.”
The Dutch world champion candidly admits that the departure of Horner after the British GP hit hard. “In the end, it’s always tough. You build a bond with Christian and achieve so much—especially in 2021, those moments,” Verstappen explains. “You never forget that. Christian really went through fire for me. Those things are always difficult when you speak to each other on the phone.”
‘Every Race Weekend’
Verstappen then reveals that this communication happens regularly. The Dutchman speaks ‘every week, every race’ with Horner. “On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, usually via text. But also during vacations, for example. Every week. Of course, he knows everyone on the team, but it’s more about ‘I wish you lots of success’ and ‘I believe in you’—the biggest fan,” Verstappen immediately shares the content of the messages. “What we’ve all been through. But also ‘you know you can do it.’ You know, those kinds of things, and besides that, you also talk about other things than racing. Yes, every week. Every race weekend.”
