Max Verstappen's grandfather met with Red Bull's Helmut Marko to ensure that the teenage charger is shielded from the troubles caused by his father, Jos Verstappen.
The former F1 driver, who has a reputation of being somewhat of a hot head, got involved in a brawl at a nightclub in Holland last weekend.
His own father, Frans Verstappen, sought out a meeting with Marko, according to De Telegraaf.
"I took this step in Max's interest," Frans said, "because I fear for his career.
"The only thing I wanted to achieve was that Red Bull intervenes to protect Max from the constant misery caused by his father," he added.
Red Bull's motorsport boss confirmed the meeting the Verstappen patriarch but made clear the fact that the family needs to work out its own issues.
"I made it clear that Red Bull has a contract only with Max, and everything else that happens in the family is not our business," Marko explained.
Gallery: All the pictures from Saturday's action in Shanghai
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