Amid recent comments from Mercedes boss Wolff about the chance of Verstappen leaving Red Bull for his team, Horner has responded strongly.
Verstappen and his team have shown they’re fully committed to each other. Horner thinks Wolff shouldn’t waste time hoping for Verstappen to switch teams.
When asked about Wolff’s hints about Verstappen being available, Horner said, “Have you asked Max about this? It’s not just about contracts. Max has a contract until 2028. It’s about how he feels in the team, his relationship with the team, and his performance. Toto should focus on other things instead of unavailable drivers.”
Wolff has said he’d like Verstappen to replace Lewis Hamilton, but he knows it’s not easy since Mercedes’ car isn’t competitive this year.
In China, Wolff said other things besides performance would decide Verstappen’s future.
This comes after a rocky start to the season for Red Bull, where there were rumors about Horner’s future because of an issue with a female employee.
Wolff said, “Many things matter when a driver decides to switch teams. It’s not just about having the fastest car. Maybe Max considers other things too. He knows racing well and will decide what’s best for him.”
He thinks Mercedes will be attractive when F1 changes its rules in 2026, but he knows the current car isn’t great.
Horner thinks all this talk about Verstappen is just to distract from Mercedes’ tough start to the season.
He said, “I won’t get involved. Sometimes, it’s just to make noise. We’re doing well. Why would Max want to leave? Mercedes is behind their customer teams now. Wolff should focus on his team, not the driver market.”
