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Horner: Wolff should focus on his own F1 problems, not “unavailable” Verstappen
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner responded firmly to Mercedes Chief Toto Wolff’s recent comments about the potential of Max Verstappen joining their team. Horner emphasized Verstappen’s commitment to Red Bull, mentioning that it’s not just about contracts but also about the team dynamic and performance. He dismissed Wolff’s hints about Verstappen’s availability, suggesting that Wolff has other things to focus on rather than pursuing unavailable drivers.
Wolff, on the other hand, expressed his interest in having Verstappen as Lewis Hamilton’s potential replacement at Mercedes but acknowledged challenges due to the team’s current car performance. He pointed out that factors beyond pure performance will play a role in Verstappen’s future decisions, acknowledging Verstappen’s depth of consideration. Wolff indicated that Verstappen would be the key to triggering further moves in the driver market, with many waiting to see his decision.
Despite Mercedes’ prospects for the 2026 rules revamp making the team attractive, Wolff acknowledged his weak hand in selling the potential of next year’s car, suggesting that Verstappen should stay at Red Bull in 2025. Horner believed that the speculation around Verstappen’s future could be a distraction tactic by Mercedes to shift focus from their challenging start to the season. Horner declined to engage further, highlighting Red Bull’s current form ahead of Mercedes in terms of races won and suggesting that sometimes the noise is just meant to create distractions.
