Drive to soothe Red Bull tensions
Max Verstappen will return to Saudi Arabia and the scene of a rare defeat last season expecting to face an inquisition this week about his future and that of his Red Bull team.
After a turbulent week of stories, speculation and a majestic triumph at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the three-time world champion will need to draw again on his deep well of mental resilience to steer clear of trouble on and off the track.
Last year, he was undone by a driveshaft problem in qualifying and started 15th on the grid.
He charged forward to finish second behind teammate Sergio Perez, one of only two races won by the Mexican.
This time, after a seasonopening win last Saturday, he will be seeking a ninth consecutive victory and a 100th career podium finish, preferably as a winner for the 56th time in his career.
But the racing will not be the agenda-topping story following the furore created by his father Jos – who will be absent this weekend, instead taking part in a regional car rally in Belgium – by claiming Red Bull faced being torn apart if Christian Horner remained as team boss. Horner, 50, was cleared of alleged inappropriate conduct involving a female colleague last Wednesday by an internal investigation and remained the focus of attention following the release of messages allegedly sent by him.
The commotion continued throughout the Bahrain weekend and throughout Monday when Verstappen senior held a 52nd birthday party in Dubai -to which Horner, reportedly, was not invited, suggesting that a clear rift existed between them. Horner was reported to have held a clear-the-air meeting with Verstappen’s agent Raymond Vermeulen.