- Jos Verstappen said the team could be ‘torn apart’ if Christian Horner stays
- Max Verstappen’s father returns to the race for the first time since a huge tirade
- It could make for a difficult and potentially explosive weekend in Monac
Jos Verstappen returns to an F1 race for the first time since telling Mail Sport that Red Bull could be ‘torn apart’ if Christian Horner continues to follow the scandal that engulfed the team boss and the organisation.
In a development that could prove explosive and tricky this weekend in Monaco, the father of world champion Red Bull driver Max Verstappen will return to the fold and arrive at the famous circuit on Thursday afternoon.
Horner, who is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, was acquitted after a lengthy investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior towards a female colleague.
Verstappen Snr also previously said the situation at Red Bull would ‘explode’ if Horner held on to his job.
In March he told Mail Sport: ‘There is tension here as he stays in position.
Jos Verstappen is pictured arriving in Monaco ahead of this weekend’s Grand Prix
Verstappen attends his first race since claims Christian Horner staying at his job could tear Red Bull apart
‘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 were on the firestorm surrounding 50-year-old Horner after sexually suggestive text messages he allegedly sent to a female employee came to public attention in a leaked email.
That leak arose 24 hours after an investigation by Red Bull’s parent company in Stuttgart cleared Horner of ‘coercive behavior’ towards the female colleague.
Mailsport previously revealed that Jos, a former teammate of Michael Schumacher, had a blazing row in Horner’s paddock office after qualifying for the opening race of the season in Bahrain.
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 mounted a campaign to oust him in recent weeks, with the implication that the Dutchman even had a hand in the email leak.
Max Verstappen will do everything he can this weekend to put distractions aside
Verstappen denied the claims, saying: ‘That wouldn’t make sense. Why would I do that if Max is doing so well here?’
The fallout has been significant and legendary Red Bull car designer Adrian Newey will leave at the end of the season and is expected to join Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari next season.
Red Bull has already been beaten twice this season, once by Ferrari and then by McLaren’s Lando Norris in what looks to be a more open race for the championship.