Horner, Jos Verstappen caught in ‘heated exchange’ at Silverstone

Just days before Christian Horner’s shock dismissal from Red Bull Racing, fresh tensions between the former team principal and Jos Verstappen reportedly erupted behind the scenes at Silverstone.

According to Ralf Schumacher, the strained relationship between Horner and the father of three-time world champion Max Verstappen took another hit during last weekend’s British Grand Prix.

Speaking on Sky Sports Germany’s Boxengasse podcast, Schumacher revealed that he personally witnessed a fiery moment between Horner and Jos at the iconic British circuit.

“There was another argument or a heated exchange, at least visually and verbally, between Jos Verstappen, Christian Horner and the press officer,” the former Grand Prix driver said.

“You could see that Jos was anything but happy with the situation.”

The incident painted a picture of a team struggling to maintain its unity – at least between Horner and the Verstappen camp. The now former Red Bull team boss and Max Verstappen’s father initially fell out in Bahrain in 2024, following allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Horner with a female Red Bull racing employee.

Despite Horner’s official exoneration after an internal investigation, the saga left a trail of strained relationships, including with Jos, who remained outspoken in his criticism, warning that Red Bull was “in danger of being torn apart” if Horner remained in charge.

However, in a recent interview with De Telegraaf, Jos Verstappen had hinted at a thaw in relations with Horner.

“There has to be mutual respect, and there is,” he said. “I’m straightforward and say what I think. They just have to take that into account. I won’t change. Not for anyone.”

But the Silverstone incident casts doubt over any true reconciliation, especially given Jos’s well-documented frustration with Horner’s leadership.

Schumacher: “He Can’t Really Deal With Criticism”

Ralf Schumacher didn’t hold back when asked about Horner’s management style, suggesting the former team boss had lost his grip on the team’s unity.

“For me, Christian Horner is also a bit of a difficult person,” he said.

“He just failed to keep the team together well, which is not always easy, of course. I also think his behaviour now… he can’t really deal with criticism.”

• Read also: Chandhok tips possible F1 destination for Horner after Red Bull exit

Schumacher went even further, revealing that Horner had seemingly cut ties with some members of the press, including Sky Germany.

“We are, or I am now, on a so-called blacklist,” he revealed. “So he no longer talks to us or with me. It’s actually a joke, because a man who has won so much should actually be able to discuss it in front of the camera.”

Horner’s sacking, announced on Wednesday, just days after the Silverstone incident, marks the end of an era for Red Bull, which the Briton had led to six constructors’ championships and eight drivers’ titles since 2005.

Laurent Mekies, formerly of Racing Bulls, has stepped in as the new CEO and team principal, tasked with stabilizing a team rocked by internal strife disappointing and on-track underperformances.

It’s unclear whether Jos Verstappen’s outspoken criticism and the reported clash may have contributed to Horner’s exit, but the abruptness of Red Bull’s decision suggests that a point of no return was reached, and required a drastic measure.

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