Horner Exit Doesn't Impact My Future - Verstappen

Max Verstappen says Christian Horner's removal arsenic Red Bull squad main has nary effect connected nan determination astir his ain future.

Horner was sacked 3 days aft nan British Grand Prix, and has been replaced by Frenchman Laurent Mekies, formerly leader of 2nd squad Racing Bulls.

Verstappen, speaking publically astir nan changes for nan first time, said: "I don't deliberation it will matter astatine each for my determination successful nan future.

"The only point that matters is that we activity connected nan car and make it arsenic accelerated arsenic we tin make it, really."

The four-time champion besides appeared to hint he will enactment astatine Red Bull beyond this season.

Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, but has mechanisms successful his statement that could let him to time off successful peculiar circumstances - nan specifications of which are not nationalist - and is being courted by Mercedes.

"The past 1 and a half years person not been what we want to be," admitted nan 27-year-old. "Now we effort to beryllium much competitory this twelvemonth a small bit, but for judge besides pinch nan caller regulations."

F1 is introducing new chassis and motor rules for 2026, and it was nan wide belief successful nan athletics that Mercedes will beryllium champion prepared for nan revised power-units that could person motivated nan Dutchman to leave.

In addition, Red Bull person slipped from competitiveness since nan mediate of past play - Verstappen lifted his 4th consecutive world title successful 2024, but won only doubly successful nan last 13 races.

This year, he is 3rd successful nan title astatine nan halfway constituent of nan season, 69 points down nan leader, McLaren's Oscar Piastri, having won conscionable doubly successful 12 grands prix. Red Bull are 4th successful nan constructors' title down McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.

Asked whether location was a anticipation he would not beryllium driving for Red Bull adjacent year, Verstappen said: "There's besides a anticipation I don't aftermath up tomorrow. So past location is nary driving astatine all. So, life is unpredictable.

"But successful general, I'm very happy wherever I'm astatine - and I hope. That was still nan target that was group retired erstwhile we signed nan caller deal, you know, that I would thrust until nan extremity of my career."

Commenting connected Horner's departure, he added: "Management decided they wanted to steer nan vessel successful a different direction, probably. And past everyone else, of course, has to anyhow work together to that and look forward.

"And I americium looking forward. Of course, I had already rather a fewer meetings pinch Laurent arsenic well.

"You know, nan past 2 weeks person been rather aggravated for him to jump in. But, yeah, I'm arsenic besides excited for nan squad now moving guardant because that's what we person to do. You know, looking back, it doesn't make sense. It's not going to make you faster."

Asked whether he was amazed by Horner's sacking arsenic squad main aft 20 years, Verstappen said: "Surprised. I mean, astatine nan extremity of nan day, successful this world, things for illustration that, they tin happen.

"And erstwhile they told me, it's not for illustration they conscionable said, 'this is what we conscionable decided', and past they hung up nan phone. You know, you person a speech astir it.

"I don't request to spell into item what they said but it was, 'OK, if you guys deliberation that this is nan measurement forward, I'm nan driver, you tin decide, and this is really we're going to do it'."

In nan aftermath of reports nan Red Bull mill successful Milton Keynes had been unsettled by Horner's exit, Verstappen said: "It's been good. Of course, erstwhile there's a alteration for illustration that, connected nan first day, group are a spot like, 'OK, what's happening?'

"But, luckily also, I deliberation fundamentally nan time aft nan announcement, I was astatine nan mill doing my simulator stuff.

"You conscionable spell backmost to work. We person to activity connected performance, mounting up nan car here, making judge that everything is correlated successful nan champion measurement possible."

Verstappen was besides asked astir nan hostility that had existed betwixt Horner and his begetter Jos Verstappen successful nan past 18 months, which was exacerbated by nan accusations of intersexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour made against Horner by a female employee.

Two soul Red Bull investigations dismissed nan allegations and nan 51-year-old has ever denied them, though nan eventual solution to them is yet to emerge.

Verstappen added: "People tin person a quality of sentiment now and then, and I really expect that to hap because if everyone ever agrees location is simply a problem. You request to person a quality of opinion. And, yeah, that's now thing that we activity pinch successful a different direction."