Source: REUTERS/Gintare Karpaviciute
[Saba Sports News] With Red Bull officially announcing the dismissal of team principal Christian Horner, the team has experienced its biggest personnel upheaval in its 20-year history. As a core figure of the team, Max Verstappen also made his first public statement on social media, expressing gratitude to the leader who helped him reach the peak of his career. In his tweet, Verstappen wrote: “From my first win to four world championships, we shared incredible success, unforgettable races, and broke countless records. Thank you for everything, Horner.” The departure of Horner has reignited speculation about Verstappen’s potential move to Mercedes. According to reports, his contract with Red Bull does include a clause that allows him to leave if the team’s performance remains poor, and this aligns with Mercedes’ eagerness to recruit. Although Verstappen and Horner have maintained a professional and trusting relationship, his father Jos Verstappen had tense relations with Horner and had multiple behind-the-scenes conflicts, which may have laid the groundwork for this personnel change. Now, Verstappen’s message carries both respect and nostalgia, but it has also raised more questions: will he reassess his future following Horner’s departure?