Max Verstappen, Red Bull, Spa-Francorchamps, 2025

Max Verstappen says his career plans are unaffected by Red Bull’s decision to replace Christian Horner as team principal.

The team announced Horner’s departure two weeks ago following the British Grand Prix. It has installed Laurent Mekies, previously team principal at their second F1 squad, Racing Bulls, in Horner’s place.

Verstappen said he learned of the decision “maybe half a day before it came out.”

“Management told me about it and then life has to go on. We had the two-week break so there were, of course, from the team’s side a lot of things going on.

“But at the same time I already had basically a week planned of holidays so in a way it was also good just to reflect on the first bit of the season and just come back here to go again and
try to be better.”

Although Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until 2028 he is believed to have an exit clause in his contract which could allow him to join another team next year if he drops out of the top three places in the championship over the next two rounds. Mercedes is known to be courting him.

Asked what effect Horner’s departure may have on his future plans, Verstappen said: “Nothing really. It has no influence on what I’m doing.

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“At the end of the day, the team made the decision to do that and now from our side we just have to move forward and look forward.”

Horner brought Red Bull into F1 and promoted Verstappen to their team four races into his second season in the world championship. Verstappen has won the last four drivers’ championships at Red Bull during which time they also won the teams’ title twice.

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