Hamilton wades into Verstappen and Horner row - "It's definitely not helpful"

06 March 2024 , 21:52

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Lewis Hamilton was asked to give his verdict (Image: Sky Sports)

Lewis Hamilton has criticised Jos Verstappen for publicly questioning the future of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

Ex-Formula 1 driver Verstappen - who's the father of current Red Bull star and three-time world champion Max - has cast doubt on Horner's position, despite the team boss being cleared after an investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague. Horner has strongly denied the accusations and maintained his innocence after alleged private messages and photos were leaked to the F1 paddock last week ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Red Bull recorded a one-two finish through Max Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez, yet Verstappen Sr has claimed that the team are "in danger of being torn apart." Speaking to the Mail, Jos added: "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."

Ahead of this Saturday's Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia, Mercedes driver Hamilton was asked to weigh in on the controversy which continues to engulf the sport. "I don't know the details of it," Hamilton, 39, replied.

"So I don't know what he's basing these foundations off. But at the end of the day, he's not a part of the team, he's a parent. And so that's just an opinion, but it's definitely not helpful."

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The British seven-time world champion then went on to discuss the wider implications of parent-driver relationships in F1. "I think it is a very thin line to walk," Hamilton added. "I think it's also dependent on your relationship with your parent.

"You meet some people who have a great relationship with their parents, and they've been amazing parents, and then you've got people that have had bad relationships. And this is not necessarily parents that have been good to them. So I don't know about his [Verstappen's] relationships.

"Obviously, you hear things here and there. But Max is a grown man, and he's a champion, and I'm sure he can make his own decisions. But I think in our world, as drivers, it's very, very easy to be misled by people whispering in your ear, and perhaps not guiding you always the right way. I'm not saying it's the case there, because they're doing great.

Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen's relationship appears to have broken down (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

"But I know in sports, other athletes that I've spoken to that I see, whether it's in tennis, and I've experienced it when you sometimes don't have the right guidance around you, it leads to you either making the wrong decisions or not being able to perhaps be the best at what you do.

"But that's obviously clearly not the case there, he's performing well. So it is very difficult because you want your parent to be your parent, and have a good relationship. But when business is involved, it makes it really difficult."

Max himself has defended his father after being asked whether or not Jos would come regret his comments about Horner's future. "I have not asked him that but my dad, from how I know him in go-karting, is very outspoken and he is not a liar, that is for sure," the Dutchman affirmed. "My dad and I are very close. We call every day."

Practice ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix begins at 1:30pm on Thursday, with the main event set to take place at 5pm this Saturday.

Nathan Ridley