CHRISTIAN HORNER was involved in a “heated exchange” with Jos Verstappen at last weekend’s British Grand Prix before he was sacked, according to sensational claims.
Horner, 51, has been axed as team principal of Red Bull Racing’s Formula One team after 20 years in the role.
GettyChristian Horner was allegedly involved in a heated exchange with Jos Verstappen during the British Grand Prix[/caption]
GettyThe pair have clashed several times in recent years[/caption]
GettyThe claim comes from Ralf Schumacher[/caption]
Cracks had been starting to appear in the team’s foundations since the start of last season as a behind the scenes power struggle erupted.
Horner and Jos Verstappen – former F1 racer and father of star driver Max Verstappen – have butted heads multiple times.
Last season, at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, the pair were seen arguing in the paddock despite the team going on to take victory.
There has been little indication of them kissing and making up, with 53-year-old Verstappen Sr saying he was “completely finished” with Horner in August.
And the tension apparently spilt over into another heated exchange at Silverstone at the weekend.
Ralf Schumacher has claimed he was witness to a Horner and Verstappen “argument” during the weekend with the team’s press officer also involved.
Speaking to the Boxengasse-podcast, he said: “There was another argument or a heated exchange, at least visually and verbally between Jos Verstappen, Christian Horner and the press officer.
“You could see that Jos was anything but happy with the situation.”
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SunSport has attempted to contact Red Bull and Christian Horner for comment.
Schumacher, 50, added: “But I understand it too. For me, Christian Horner is also a bit of a difficult person.
“I have to say that. He just failed to keep the team together well, which is not always easy, of course.
“But I also think his behaviour now, I can only refer to myself, but he can’t really deal with criticism.”
Schumacher also said Horner refuses to speak to the German branch of Sky Sports.
He said: “We are, or I am, now, on a so-called black list, so he no longer talks to us or with me and such.
“It’s actually a joke, because a man who has won so much should actually be able to discuss it in front of the camera,”
The decision to sack Horner comes a year and a half after the ‘sexting scandal’ that engulfed him over texts he apparently sent to a female employee. He was cleared of any wrongdoing and vehemently denied the claims.
Jos is reportedly a friend of the female complainant and repeatedly called for Horner’s dismissal after the scandal.
Despite keeping his job in the aftermath of the chaos, Red Bull have slumped down both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings, with Verstappen reportedly eyeing a move to huge rivals Mercedes.
The Dutch driver, 27, struck gold with pole position on Saturday before he suffered a disastrous spin during a safety car restart in Sunday’s chaotic race.
Lando Norris took the chequered flag of his home race for the first time ahead of disgruntled McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, who had fumed about a ten-second time penalty he received after he stopped under the safety car.
But the achievement was arguably trumped by Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg scoring his first ever F1 podium after 239 races – and his team’s first since 2012.
Laurent Mekies has been appointed as the new CEO of Red Bull Racing, stepping up from the Racing Bulls team, following Horner’s departure.
The next F1 race will commence on July 27 with the Belgian Grand Prix.
Verstappen sits third in the drivers’ championship, scoring 165 of Red Bull’s total tally of 172, which sees them currently in fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship.
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