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- Horner’s rivalry with Max Verstappen’s dad Jos appears to have reignited
- Jos had been lined up to drive his son’s 2018 Red Bull as part of a Legends Parade
- The father of Max has reportedly accused Horner of trying to force him out
Jos Verstappen has renewed his bitter feud with Christian Horner just days after his son Max committed his future to the Red Bull team for 2025.
Triple world champion Max has decided to stay with the team next season, after his future had been a highly charged subject since his team principal Horner was engulfed by scandal earlier this year.
Horner hunt onto his job after he was cleared by an internal investigation into claims he coerced a female employee.
The fallout pitted Horner against Max’s father, Jos, who said the team would ‘explode’ if the Red Bull team principal kept his job.
Their row appears to have been reignited, after Jos accused Horner of trying ‘to force him out of a Legends Parade’ this weekend as part of the festivities surrounding the Austrian Grand Prix.
Jos Verstappen (right) appears to have reignited his row with Red Bull boss Christian Horner (left)
Jos has accused Horner of trying to force him out of a ‘Legends Parade’ ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix
Horner
As per Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Verstappen Snr said: ‘In the past few days I’ve heard from several sides that Christian Horner did everything he could to not let me drive and otherwise to make sure that nothing would be filmed.
‘Then I think ‘say it to my face’. It doesn’t have to be this way for me, I find it very disappointing.’
Jos has pulled out of the event though as per the Mirror, Red Bull have denied the claim from Verstappen’s father.
The Legends Parade would have seen Jos drive a past Formula One car at the Red Bull ring.
Two-time F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi is part of the parade, as well as former race winners David Coulthard, Johnny Herbert and Gerhard Berger.
Jos, would have driven a RB8 to commemorate his son Max’s victory at the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix.
Verstappen Snr had spoken to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff about Max moving there, despite his son’s contract at Red Bull running until 2028.
Max was happy to stay at Red Bull, a decision which makes plenty of sense given the team has led him to three straight drivers’ titles, and he has also won seven out of the opening 10 races this season.
But as reported by Mail Sport, he does hold get-out clauses in his contract, not least one that states he can leave if Red Bull’s motorsport adviser, Dr Helmet Marko, walks away.
Horner, who is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, was cleared following a lengthy investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague.
Verstappen Snr back in March told Mail Sport: ‘There is tension here while he 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.’
The pair were also seen having a blazing row in Horner’s paddock office after qualifying for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
Jos walked out of the fiery meeting before returning to the room and shaking hands with the Englishman.
He missed the next couple of races, before returning to the paddock at the Monaco Grand Prix last month.
