The dust may have settled on Red Bull’s explosive management shake-up last summer, but for Max Verstappen, former CEO and team principal Christian Horner is still very much on speed dial.
Despite the Briton’s high-profile firing in July 2025, the four-time champion has revealed that his bond with his former boss remains unbroken, even as the team moves into a new era under Laurent Mekies.
The 2025 season was a bruising one for the Milton Keynes squad. Once the undisputed kings of the grid, Red Bull tumbled to third in the constructors’ standings, while Verstappen missed out on a fifth consecutive title by a heartbreaking two-point margin.
Against a backdrop of internal "sourness" and sliding results, the shareholders finally pulled the trigger on Horner’s twenty-year tenure.
A Bond Forged in Fire
While the corporate world moved on, Verstappen admits that the personal connection built during their championship-winning years – most notably the volcanic 2021 season – wasn’t something that could be erased by a board meeting.
"Things weren't going very well for the whole team,” Verstappen told Viaplay, reflecting on the atmosphere that led to the leadership change.
“In terms of results, there was a bit of unrest in the team, and when things haven't been going well for a long time… in the end, the shareholders also wanted change because they weren't happy with how things were going either.”
©RedBull
Despite the logic of the business decision, the emotional weight of the exit clearly still hangs heavy for the Dutchman.
“Ultimately, it's always difficult. You've built up a bond with Christian and achieved so much - especially in 2021, those moments too," Max explained.
"You'll never forget that. Christian really went through fire for me. Those kinds of things are always difficult when you talk to each other on the phone.”
The 'Biggest Fan' on Speed Dial
If anyone thought Horner would fade into the background of F1 history, Verstappen’s revelation of their constant communication proves otherwise. The former team principal isn't just a distant memory; he is a permanent fixture in Max’s race weekend routine.
Verstappen confirmed he speaks with Horner “every week, every race. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday and usually via text message. But also on holiday, for example. Every week.”
Read also: From boos to belief: Verstappen ‘surprised’ by new fan supportWhile Mekies now manages Red Bull’s affairs, it is Horner who remains the driver's most vocal cheerleader from the sidelines.
“Of course, he knows everyone in the team, but it's more about ‘I wish you good luck’ and 'I believe in you’ - biggest fan," Verstappen revealed.
"What we've all been through. But also, ‘you know you can do it’. You know, all that kind of stuff and outside of that, of course, you talk about things other than racing, too. Yes, every week. Every race weekend.”
As Red Bull attempts to claw its way back to the front of the pack in 2026, it seems Verstappen is leaning on the man who started it all, proving that while teams change, some loyalties are permanent.
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