Max Verstappen Backs Christian Horner Despite Red Bull Axe: 'He Went Through Fire for Me'

Last Updated:January 01, 2026, 23:48 IST

Max Verstappen stays in close contact with Christian Horner after his Red Bull exit, praising their bond.

Verstappen with Horner (X)

Max Verstappen has revealed he remains in regular contact with Christian Horner despite the former Red Bull boss being sacked earlier this year, insisting their bond has not faded even as the team moves on.

Horner’s shock departure in July ended a 20-year reign that transformed Red Bull into an F1 powerhouse, delivering 14 world titles — six of them with Verstappen at the wheel after his meteoric rise from Toro Rosso in 2016.

But the final stretch of Horner’s tenure was turbulent. Red Bull were rocked by internal power struggles following the death of founder Dietrich Mateschitz, allegations of inappropriate behaviour against Horner, from which he was later cleared, and a slide down the competitive order to fourth fastest on the grid.

The unrest prompted Red Bull’s shareholders to act, replacing Horner with Laurent Mekies. The change sparked an immediate turnaround, as Verstappen mounted an unexpected title challenge and finished runner-up to Lando Norris.

Despite that, Verstappen made it clear his loyalty to Horner remains strong.

“You build something together and share so many moments," Verstappen told Viaplay. “Especially 2021, you never forget that. Christian really went through fire for me."

The four-time world champion revealed they still speak constantly. “Every week. Every race weekend — Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Mostly by text, but also outside racing, even on holiday. He’s always wishing me luck and saying he believes in me."

Yet Verstappen stopped short of questioning Red Bull’s decision. While he didn’t say it outright, his verdict on the current mood was telling.

“The team is doing well," he said. “There’s confidence again. People are smiling, and everyone gets along. At one point, we lost that Red Bull feeling — now it’s back."

News sports formula-one Max Verstappen Backs Christian Horner Despite Red Bull Axe: 'He Went Through Fire for Me'

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