31/07/2025 13:15
Former F1 driver Martin Brundle pointed out that he has "almost
considered" Jos Verstappen as Red Bull's team principal, following
his public outcry against Christian Horner. In Bahrain last year,
a public row was created between Verstappen and Horner, due to the
former insisting the team would "explode" if a change of team boss
was not made. Fast forward to this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix,
and it represents Laurent Mekies' second event as Red Bull boss
after Horner was axed after Silverstone. Max Verstappen's future
is speculated as having been a reason behind the departure, with
the Dutchman having found himself heavily linked to Mercedes.
However, with Horner now gone, Brundle is adamant that it has
secured the Milton Keynes-based outfit the 27-year-old for 2026.
Brundle is confident the four-time world champion's camp would have
been aware of the decision by Red Bull's senior figures to axe
Horner, and that Verstappen would have confirmed his commitment to
the team before the exit was announced. In addition, the Sky F1
pundit is certain the public comments made at Horner by Jos, would
have been considered in the decision to hire a new team boss after
over 20 years. Discussing if Jos' outcry for Horner to be axed
played a part in the Briton's departure, Brundle told Sky F1 :
"Absolutely. I think since Bahrain last year, I've almost
considered Jos as the team principal of Red Bull. "It's become a
one-driver team and I think that's something they've got to fix as
well. But there's no way the hierarchy in Austria would have done
this [sacked Horner without Verstappen's camp being aware]. "The
Verstappens would have bought into this. They wouldn't have been
blindsided. So there's no way that Max will now be leaving the team
because of that. "They would have ensured that before they made
that move with Christian."
