03 March 2024 , 19:20
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World champion Max Verstappen has refused a request from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to publicly back Christian Horner, it's been claimed.
Horner, Red Bull's team principal, faced allegations of "inappropriate behaviour" but was cleared by an internal investigation earlier this week. Just 24 hours after being cleared by Red Bull, texts and pictures, allegedly between Horner and a colleague, were leaked.
Horner, who has always protested his innocence, has maintained that he will remain as Red Bull's team principal despite mounting pressure. Crisis-hit Red Bull on Sunday insisted that the team remains "united", following comments from Verstappen's father Jos. Verstappen Snr claiming the team is “in danger of being torn apart” if Horner remains in his role as team principal.
Speaking following Saturday’s race, Verstappen Snr said: “There is tension here while he (Horner) remains in position. The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”
In response, a Red Bull Racing spokesperson said on Sunday : “There are no issues here. The team are united and we are focused on racing.”
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FIA boss Ben Sulayem has admitted that the ongoing issue concerning Horner has been damaging to the sport's image. He told the Financial Times : “It’s damaging the sport... This is damaging on a human level."
Now, as first reported by De Telegraaf, the FIA president finds himself in the middle of things, following the claim that he has attempted to put pressure on F1's current king - only to be rejected.
Their report, backed by the BBC, states Ben Sulayem approached him in parc ferme after qualifying on Friday. Ben Sulayem covered his mouth so his words couldn't be lip read, but nearby photographers were able to listen in and overhead the request.
Verstappen was asked about the situation during the weekend, and failed to back his long-time team manager.
"From my side, and I think what I can see also from the mechanics and the engineers, we are fully focused on the car and the performance here during the weekend,” he said. "And that's how it should be, I think, and that's what we continue to do, because it's not our business. We're not particularly involved in that.
"And we are here, we are paid to do our job, and that's what we are doing and that's also what we love doing. So that's what we focus on."
Race winner Max Verstappen and Christian Horner pose after winning the Bahrain GP (Getty Images)Verstappen Snr, not an employee of Red Bull Racing, has been accused of attempting to oust Horner from his job. But the 51-year-old responded to those claims: “That wouldn’t make sense. Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here?”
Horner strode hand-in-hand with wife Geri in the paddock one hour and 45 minutes before Saturday’s race. If that was a show of unity from his wife, then he was also handed one by Red Bull's majority shareholder, Thai billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya, who joined the duo on the team's terrace in a public show of support.
Speaking after seeing Verstappen take the chequered flag on Saturday, Horner was asked if he is confident he will stay on as Red Bull team principal for the rest of the season. He replied: “Absolutely. Absolutely.”
He added: “I have the support of an incredible family, an incredible wife, an incredible team and everybody within that team. And my focus is on going racing, winning races, and doing the best I can.
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“It was a day about starting the season in the best possible way. My focus is on this team, my family, my wife and racing.”
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Horner was also quizzed about the leaked email - which Mirror Sport has seen - which was sent from an anonymous email account to 149 members of the F1 paddock – including ben Sulayem, F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and the grid’s nine other team principals, as well as members of the media.
“I am not going to comment on anonymous speculative messages from an unknown source,” Horner said. “I am not going to comment on what motives whatever person may have for doing this.
“Obviously, it has not been pleasant with some of the unwanted attention, but the focus is very much on the cars and my focus has been on what is happening on track and the result (on Saturday) demonstrates where the focus is and we move onwards.
“There was a full, lengthy internal process that was completed by an independent KC and the grievance that was raised was dismissed. End of. Move on.”