Jul.11 (GMM) With Christian Horner now not an element, all eyes are again on Max Verstappen’s subsequent transfer in Method 1.
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher says he witnessed the ultimate argument between Max’s father Jos and Horner at Silverstone, with Bild newspaper revealing how the alternate ended.
“I’ll maintain the stress on you, Christian,” Jos reportedly mentioned.
Days later, with Crimson Bull’s Thai co-owner Chalerm Yoovidhya now not capable of defend Horner after diluting his 51 % management by 2pc, Horner is gone.
Max Verstappen, in the meantime, was heading to Sardinia.
“It’s no coincidence that this week there are two yachts off the coast of Sardinia,” Schumacher instructed motorsport-total.com. “One belongs to Toto Wolff, and the opposite to Max Verstappen.
“I can think about them consuming espresso collectively.”
Some suppose Horner’s exit was the results of an ultimatum the Verstappen camp made to Crimson Bull, though former F1 driver Christijan Albers isn’t so positive.
“I don’t imagine Max mentioned ‘he’s out or I’m out’,” he instructed the Dutch publication Formule 1. “That’s not how he’s.
“I do suppose he made it clear that issues have to alter. Crimson Bull is nothing with out Max, and that’s not the way it must be at a high staff, after all.”
Former Haas staff boss Gunther Steiner thinks Verstappen, 27, will wait at Crimson Bull at the very least lengthy sufficient to evaluate what adjustments within the new Laurent Mekies period.
“I imagine he’ll keep the place he’s subsequent 12 months,” Steiner instructed sport.de.
“There shall be utterly new rules – no one is aware of who shall be the place. Switching now and signing a long-term contract is an excessive amount of of a danger.”
A transfer for 2027 makes far more sense, Steiner added.
“Logically, you’ve a great probability of entering into the very best automobile if you happen to’re the very best driver,” he mentioned. “That’s simply the way it works in Method 1.
“Max will calmly analyse subsequent 12 months who has the very best bundle.”
Fascinatingly, although, a really well-placed insider has let slip that the quadruple world champion’s determination might have already got been made.
Discussing Mercedes’ present efficiency on the Pelas Pistas podcast, Nelson Piquet jr mentioned: “There are weekends this 12 months the place issues simply don’t work out for Mercedes.
“However who is aware of what is going to occur subsequent 12 months, when Max is driving there,” the previous F1 driver added.
Piquet, 39, isn’t solely the son of F1 legend Nelson Piquet senior, however the older brother of Verstappen’s girlfriend Kelly.
After letting slip that Verstappen shall be “driving there” at Mercedes in 2026, he instantly hit reverse gear. “I feel he’ll decide in August.”
