Christian Horner wasn’t the only Red Bull employee who incurred Jos Verstappen’s wrath at Silverstone

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Christian Horner’s long-running feud with Jos Verstappen may well have contributed to the team principal losing his Red Bull job. While he increasingly kept his grievances private, they were still very real.

Speaking after Adrian Newey’s resignation last spring, Verstappen Sr warned that Red Bull were at risk of ‘falling apart’ under Horner. Sporting director Jonathan Wheatley and strategy chief Will Courtenay also left for other teams last year.

At the 2024 Austrian GP, Horner allegedly prevented Verstappen from taking part in the legends’ parade in an old Red Bull car. They seemed to form a truce in the second half of the season as his son fought to preserve his championship lead.

But ex-F1 driver Verstappen maintained serious concerns about Horner’s leadership into 2025. With the reigning champion dropping to a distant third and Red Bull floundering in the constructors’, the 20-year team boss lost the support he needed.

Jos Verstappen was furious with Red Bull communications director Paul Smith

Horner wasn’t the only Red Bull employee who was sacked this week. Chief marketing and commercial officer Oliver Hughes and director of communications Paul Smith were also relieved of their duties.

According to a report from The Telegraph, who have spoken to ‘multiple witnesses’, Jos Verstappen had a ‘heated row’ with Smith in the garage. His son had just fallen from pole position to fifth in the race.

He was apparently furious over Smith’s briefings to the media. Along with Hughes, he was a ‘staunch’ ally of Horner.

Some outlets have claimed that Jos is spreading rumours about Max joining Mercedes. It’s unclear if this was what angered the 53-year-old, or whether Smith fed this information.

Jos Verstappen wasn’t happy with recent Christian Horner driver decision

Max Verstappen told his father the Red Bull wasn’t ‘good enough’ in a phonecall during the Austrian GP weekend. He qualified seventh before Kimi Antonelli took him out at the start of the race.

The Verstappen ‘camp’ consists of Max, Jos and manager Raymond Vermeulen. They may have been influential in Horner losing his job.

Vermeulen says he will continue to evaluate Red Bull, which suggests that the regime change won’t entirely resolve the doubts over his future. The struggles of the team’s second drivers have underlined just how critical it is to keep him.

Team Verstappen apparently had no issue with signing Carlos Sainz, despite reports to the contrary. Neither Liam Lawson nor Yuki Tsunoda can compete with the Spaniard in terms of pedigree.