Max Verstappen’s dad Jos calls for Christian Horner’s head as he claims Red Bull will ‘EXPLODE’ if Geri Halliwell’s shamed husband remains as team principal… despite the couple’s public display of unity in Bahrain
- Christian Horner believes Jos Verstappen has orchestrated a campaign against him
- Verstappen Snr denied the claims but says there will be tension if Horner stays
- Horner received public messages of support from his wife, Geri Horner, in Bahrain
Jos Verstappen, father of three-time Formula 1 world champion Max, claimed Red Bull would ‘explode’ if Christian Horner remains as team boss.
He made the inflammatory comments as the most toxic weekend in Formula 1 history concluded with Verstappen Jr. who scored a crushing victory at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
“There is tension here as he stays in position,” Verstappen Snr said Mailsport.
‘The team is in danger of being torn apart. It cannot continue as it is. It will explode. He plays the victim, while he is the one causing the problems.’
The eyes of the wider world are on the firestorm surrounding Horner, the 50-year-old husband of former Spice Girl Geri, after sexually suggestive text messages he allegedly sent to a female employee were revealed in a leaked email on Thursday under the came to public attention.
Jos Verstappen (right) claims Red Bull will ‘explode’ if Christian Horner stays with the team
Horner and his wife Geri (left) put on a public display of unity despite his texting scandal
That was 24 hours after an investigation by Red Bull’s parent company in Stuttgart had cleared Horner of ‘coercive behavior’ towards the female colleague.
Mailsport can reveal that Jos, Michael Schumacher’s former teammate, had a blazing row in Horner’s paddock office on Friday evening after qualifying.
Verstappen, 51, left the fiery meeting before returning to the room and reluctantly shaking hands.
According to his relations, Horner believes that Verstappen Snr has organized a campaign to oust him in recent weeks, with the implication that the Dutchman even had a hand in the email leak.
Verstappen denies the claims and says: ‘That would make no sense. Why would I do that if Max is doing so well here?’
Verstappen Snr thinks Red Bull is in danger of being ‘torn apart’ by the off-track drama
Horner and his partner shared a kiss in Bahrain after the couple went out for lunch
Horner has declined to comment on possible motives of those responsible for the leaking of texts
Horner received a very public show of support from 51-year-old Geri in the paddock.
She walked with him hand in hand and wearing a smile from the main entrance to the catering area before sitting down for lunch.
After the win, Horner said: “I’m not going to comment on any person’s motives for doing this.”
Asked if he would be at next weekend’s race and the entire season in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, he said: ‘Absolutely. I have always been confident that I will be here.”