Verstappen says Horner’s exit has no impact on future plans

Max Verstappen has insisted that Christian Horner’s shock departure as team boss of Red Bull will have no impact on his future plans.

The four-time world champion, who has been linked with a move to Mercedes next year, suggested on Thursday that he expects to stay with Red Bull until the conclusion of his current contract in 2028.

Speaking to reporters in the paddock before this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, one of his “home” races as he was born in Belgium and his mother is Belgian, the 27-year-old Dutchman said he was concerned only with improving the speed and performance of his car.

The rest, he said, was not of great interest to him, adding that past tensions between Horner and his father, Jos Verstappen, had no bearing on decisions about his future.

Asked if Horner’s exit after 20 years as team boss made it more probable that he would stay at Red Bull next year, Verstappen said, “No, it doesn’t. Not really.”

He said the well-publicised discord between his father and Horner was never a problem.

“People can have a difference of opinion, and I expect that to happen because if everyone agrees, there is a problem.

“You need to have differences in opinion. Now, we will work in a different direction, and I am excited about it, and I don’t think it will matter at all for the decision over my future.

“The only thing that matters is that we work on the car and make it as fast as we can and try and be more competitive this year, a little bit, but for sure with the new regulations next year.”