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Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes that former Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen still craves his father's approval in everything he does. Speaking on the "Up to Speed" podcast, the Briton addressed Jos Verstappen's influential presence, which often created tension and added drama within the Austrian outfit.
The Briton opened up about his perspective on the Verstappen family—a subject scarcely touched upon in his upcoming autobiography, Drive. Asked about the impact of Jos's presence in the Red Bull garage, Horner highlighted the immense weight of his authority:
"Given his background as an F1 driver and the huge enthusiasm in the Netherlands, Jos has a hugely influential voice."
Horner drew comparisons between Jos and Helmut Marko, noting that virtually any statement from either of them would instantly make headlines in the press.
However, Horner was not entirely critical of the Red Bull star's father. He acknowledged Jos's pivotal role during the early stages of Max's career, when strict parental guidance and uncompromising standards helped mold the driver.
"Max has always valued his opinion very highly, and I think he still seeks his approval in everything he does. The person he wants to impress the most remains his father," Horner stated.
According to Horner, such a dynamic inevitably caused friction when strong personalities collided. As team boss, Horner had to protect Red Bull's interests, which occasionally led to disputes with Jos and subsequent media fallout.
One of the most notable clashes erupted after the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix, won by Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez. Jos publicly urged the team to clarify their priorities and back his son, prompting Horner to firmly respond that the team was called neither "Sergio Perez Racing" nor "Max Verstappen Racing".
Relations deteriorated further following the 2024 controversy surrounding allegations made against Horner by an employee, from which he was fully cleared after internal investigations. Nevertheless, in July 2025, the team principal was dismissed from his role. Speaking in Netflix's Drive to Survive docuseries, Horner admitted that Max's father was never his supporter, though he denied that the Verstappen family had any hand in his sacking.
Horner's book places Jos at the center of another dispute, revealing that during their earliest discussions about signing Max, Helmut Marko himself referred to his father as an "absolute nightmare".
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