In the midst of the tension between Horner and Verstappen, a fundamental meeting to calm the internal situation at Red Bull

A few days before the grand prix of Formula 1 in Saudi Arabia, next Saturday, in Red Bull They try to put the house in order. Second CaretakerDubai was the setting chosen by the English coach of the Austrian team, Christian Hornerfor a face-to-face meeting with the representative of Max VerstappenRaymond Vermeulen, with the aim of regaining calm and overcoming the growing tensions within the three-time world champion team.

Days ago, and a few hours after the consecration in Bahrain, in the first Grand Prix of the season, Jos Verstappenthe former driver and Max’s father, had sparked a scandal that added fuel to the fire when he said: “There is tension here as long as Horner remains in his place. The team risks disintegrating. It can’t continue like this.” It will explode. He’s playing the victim. , when he is the one causing the problems,” he added.

This was his opinion after the scandal that Horner faced in the weeks before the start of the competition, which was closed after an internal investigation by Red Bull but this left clear acrimony among the company’s shareholders. In response to Verstappen’s comments, a Red Bull Racing spokesperson said: “There are no issues here. The team is united and we are focused on the competition.”

The meeting between interested parties came 48 hours after Verstappen’s father said Red Bull would “explode” if Horner remained in his position as team principal. However, following the victory in Bahrain, the Briton said he was “absolutely certain” he would remain as Red Bull director for the remainder of the season.

According to the English media, the tone of the meeting between the two was handled rather well. However, neither Jos nor Max were present, and it was Vermeulen who acted on behalf of the world’s biggest motorsport star and his father.

Horner has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks following allegations made against him by a member of the team. The controversy has come to naught, at least for now, but it has shaken a team that had (and has) all the tools to be crowned the best in the world once again. The scandal can have unforeseen consequences.

Helmut Marko, the strong man of Red Bull, fears Verstappen’s departure by 2025, when Mercedes Benz will be without Lewis Hamilton (he goes to Ferrari) and will have to look for a replacement. The specialized media say so Cars and sportswhich also reports on the fear generated in Austria by the possible departure of the famous designer, Adrian Neweyand the doubts that the extra-sporting episodes aroused Ford Performancethe racing team of the American car manufacturer which will collaborate with RB Racing starting from 2026.

The uncertainty is enormous, even if Red Bull, Horner and Verstappen have a great certainty: the RB20 is ready to take to the track and do what it does best. The Saudi Arabian GP takes place this weekend and the three-time world champion is one of the big favorites to repeat what he achieved a few days ago in Bahrain. The noise of the engines promises to cover the scandal, at least for a while.