Red Bull and Verstappen do not seem to be well-liked within the F1 environment. During the presentation show for the 2025 liveries of various teams, the boos directed at Christian Horner and world champion Max Verstappen during the team principal’s monologue did not go unnoticed. The incident caused dismay within the International Federation, which deemed it necessary to release a statement on the matter. The message emphasized that great rivalries in motorsport history have contributed to making the sport so exciting for fans.
However, the FIA reiterated that the culture of respect must never be compromised. As such, the governing body did not appreciate hearing the “tribal” reaction of the crowd toward the FIA F1 world champion, Max Verstappen, and his Red Bull team director and CEO, Christian Horner, during the event held at the O2 Arena in London. The FIA’s stance is understandable, but it seems like a formality, given that it was a gala evening. What happened in the British capital is certainly not surprising, especially from our perspective.
The love for Ferrari has often been tainted by crude grandstand behavior from some so-called fans, who on multiple occasions targeted the man who is now seen as a savior figure—Lewis Hamilton. A similar reception was also given to Riccardo Patrese, who, at the 1983 San Marino Grand Prix, crashed at “Acque Minerali” and was greeted with an obscene gesture by several spectators for inadvertently paving the way for Patrick Tambay’s victory. Supporting the Prancing Horse is a unique phenomenon, and there is little else to say about it.
Many Italian fans identify Maranello’s single-seaters as the national team of motorsport. Nevertheless, in recent years, we have witnessed a radical shift in Formula 1’s fanbase. Much like in MotoGP, the younger generations are far more attached to individual drivers than to teams. Just look at the Orange Army, which follows Max Verstappen’s exploits in every corner of the world. To a lesser extent, all drivers have become brands themselves, reaching unprecedented popularity through social media channels.
F1, Red Bull Struggles, Verstappen Doesn’t Care
Due to this new type of support, true fan factions have emerged. Therefore, it is not surprising that among the many spectators at Tuesday’s show, there were plenty of English fans of Lewis Hamilton or Lando Norris, who see the four-time world champion Dutchman as their number one enemy. Had the event taken place in the Netherlands, Belgium, or Austria, none of this would have happened—or perhaps the exact opposite would have. This is not meant to justify hateful behavior toward any driver or team representative in any way.
Jos Verstappen also spoke on the matter, expressing his disapproval of the reception his son received at the O2 Arena. The former Benetton, Arrows, and Minardi driver called the audience’s behavior during Christian Horner’s monologue disgraceful. After all, the British resentment toward Max has only deepened over time—starting with the battles against Hamilton in 2021, then against Norris last season, and even with Russell, following the controversy surrounding the Dutchman’s penalty in last year’s Qatar Grand Prix qualifying.
Despite racing for a team based in the United Kingdom, Verstappen has never truly enjoyed the support of British fans or the media. This is an undeniable fact. And this awareness fuels his no-nonsense approach, as seen in the post-race press conference at last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix. After utterly dominating Lando Norris and delivering a sublime driving lesson to all his peers, he sarcastically asked where the British press had disappeared to.
Paradoxically, the most humiliating aspect is that a team headquartered in England, with a predominantly British workforce, was loudly booed in its own home. True, the team is officially Austrian due to its parent company, but in reality, it is English through and through, just like almost all of its members. Max Verstappen, after securing four F1 world titles, has broad shoulders and could not have cared less about the London showcase. It was far worse for Horner, however, to hear how hostile his own people have become toward the team he leads as CEO and team principal.
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