P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen bit back at what he described as a “weird question” which asked whether Red Bull’s upturn in form in the latter part of this year’s F1 season is related to Christian Horner’s departure from the team.
Max Verstappen responded sharply to a question about whether Red Bull’s recent Formula 1 resurgence is linked to Christian Horner’s departure from the team, calling it a “weird question”. The team saw a significant improvement in performance after the summer break, with Verstappen winning three races and consistently reaching the podium. This strong showing has brought Verstappen back into the title contention, despite being behind the McLaren drivers earlier in the season. The post-Horner era at Red Bull has been marked by Verstappen having more influence on car setup, with new boss Laurent Mekies playing a key role. Verstappen downplayed any connection between Horner leaving and Red Bull’s progress, emphasizing the team’s hard work and the car’s improved performance on various tracks. Despite the likelihood of losing his World Champion status this season, Verstappen remains philosophical, acknowledging the competition’s progress and accepting the ups and downs of racing.
