Source: REUTERS/Rula Rouhana
[Saba Sports News] At the beginning of the month, Christian Horner was fired from Red Bull, shocking the entire paddock. The focus quickly turned to another name — Max Verstappen. Some analysts suggested that Verstappen’s team played a key role in Horner’s departure. Faced with the public backlash, Verstappen finally spoke at the Belgian Grand Prix, clearly stating, “Red Bull manages the team, and I am the driver. Ultimately, the decision doesn’t lie with me.” According to Verstappen, he found out about Horner’s dismissal several hours before the official announcement from Red Bull shareholders. He personally was not the secret mastermind behind it. The four-time F1 champion admitted that even though Horner left, their personal relationship would remain unchanged. He also acknowledged Horner’s extraordinary achievements for Red Bull over the past 20 years — including eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ titles. Verstappen admitted that the recent change in leadership was due to poor on-track performance, especially the lack of speed over the past 18 months, but he did not make any value judgment, only expressing respect for the management’s decision.