Despite Christian Horner no longer being a part of the F1 paddock, Max Verstappen has admitted that the two have remained in close contact. Does the former Team Principal already have his sights set on a return to the circus?
Following Christian Horner’s departure from Red Bull Racing, many expected a total disconnect between the team’s former leader and four-time world champion Max Verstappen. However, the reality is quite different. The Dutch driver has revealed that his relationship with Horner remains solid and that the two are still in regular contact, despite the Briton’s dismissal six months ago.
After 20 years at the helm of the team—leading the project since Red Bull’s very inception—Horner was removed from his role as Team Principal following a disappointing first half of the season. Results had become increasingly inconsistent, seeing Red Bull slide to fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship. By the time of the British Grand Prix in July, when the firing occurred, the gap to McLaren had ballooned to a staggering 288 points.
Verstappen says he understands the Red Bull board’s decision to make changes at the top, especially considering the personal allegations brought against Horner 17 months earlier by his personal assistant, which had triggered two separate investigations. “Things were not going very well within the team from a results perspective and, obviously, there was also a bit of discontent,” the Dutch driver stated in a year-end interview with Viaplay.
“And when things don’t go well for a certain period, it is the shareholders who want to see a change. They weren’t satisfied with the direction being taken. In the end, they decided to make this choice and to focus on Laurent Mekies.”
Verstappen also explained how much the change impacted him personally, given the close friendship he had built with Horner during their years of triumph, starting with that first world title in 2021. “It’s difficult, because with Christian I built a relationship and achieved so much,” Verstappen explained. “Especially those moments in 2021. Obviously, you never forget those. In the end, Christian went through fire for me, and those kinds of things carry weight when you are on the phone with him.”
Horner and Verstappen: A solid bond against the odds
Perhaps the most surprising revelation concerns the frequency of the contact between Verstappen and Horner. When asked if they still hear from each other regularly, the driver replied: “Still every week, during every race weekend—on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We stay in touch during the holidays too. He knows everyone in the team, but it’s mostly him telling me: ‘I wish you the best, I believe in you, I’m your biggest fan,’ and things like that. But we also talk about everything we have already lived through together. You discuss those kinds of things. And, outside of racing, we talk about other things too.”
Although the change in leadership coincided with a sharp improvement in Red Bull’s performance—boasting six wins in ten races after the summer break—Verstappen remains cautious about judging the direct effect of Horner’s removal.
“I want to be careful how I express it,” he said. “I don’t want to criticize Christian, because he obviously achieved a huge amount with this team, and others have yet to even try to achieve those results. Horner also brought the people into the team who allowed us to achieve these successes. Then the change comes. You see it in other sports too, when things aren’t going well.”
As the 2026 season looms, the ongoing dialogue between the sport’s most successful driver and its longest-serving former boss highlights a loyalty that transcends corporate reshuffles. While Red Bull finds its footing under new leadership, the shadow of the Horner era remains, kept alive by a driver who refuses to forget the man who stood by him during his most defining moments on track. Ultimately, whether this connection eventually paves the way for a professional reunion remains to be seen, but for now, the Verstappen-Horner alliance is as strong as ever.
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