Max Verstappen arrives in Melbourne for Australian Grand Prix 2024 as Red Bull’s Thai owners wade into Christian Horner’s ‘sex texts’ row

Max Verstappen has landed in Melbourne ahead of an important week at the Australian Grand Prix for Red Bull Racing.

The Formula 1 world champion and his team have been embroiled in controversy this season following allegations against boss Christian Horner of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by a female colleague.

An internal investigation has cleared the beleaguered husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, with the unnamed woman banned from the team for giving ‘dishonest’ evidence.

Hundreds of messages purporting to be from Horner – some sexual – were circulated to the media and F1 powerhouses, but Red Bull confirmed he would not be sacked despite calls from Verstappen’s father, Jos, to let Horner walk or risk the team to tear apart.

Thai businessman Chalerm Yoovidhya owns 51 percent of Red Bull and has reportedly sent a family member – dubbed the ‘Thai spy’ – to keep an eye on Horner and the wider company.

Max Verstappen has arrived in Melbourne ahead of this year’s Australian Grand Prix

The reigning world champion has won the first two races of the new season

Despite the off-track drama, Verstappen has kept his cool behind the wheel and comfortably won the first two races of the season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

And the reigning champion appeared relaxed as he touched down at Melbourne Airport ahead of this weekend’s race at Albert Park.

The 26-year-old has not yet completely moved on from the scandal and insists he would leave the team if Red Bull chief Helmut Marko left the company.

Marko was accused of being the source of the leaked messages and himself admitted that he may not attend this weekend’s race if he faces disciplinary action. He has since insisted that he will not leave the team.

Verstappen, Red Bull’s most important asset, cannot accept Marko leaving, which would have increased the chance of his move to Mercedes.

The three-time world champion said in Saudi Arabia: ‘If such an important pillar disappears, it is not good for my situation and I have told the team that. He is an important part of my decision-making for the future.

Verstappen seemed relaxed ahead of a big race week Down Under

The Red Bull team is embroiled in a scandal involving Christian Horner

Verstappen, Red Bull’s main asset, will not accept Marko leaving, which increases the chance that he will move to Mercedes. The three-time world champion said: ‘If such an important pillar disappears, it is not good for my situation and I have said that to the team. He plays an important role in my decision-making for the future. The renowned race operator was due to attend this weekend’s race.

‘For me, Helmut has to stay. I have a lot of respect for him and what we have achieved together. It goes very far.

“He built this team with Dietrich (Mateschitz, the late founder of the energy drink company).”