How Max Verstappen privately feels about working with Christian Horner again after Red Bull sacking

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Christian Horner has been instrumental in Max Verstappen becoming an all-time Formula 1 great. But now one of the most successful driver/team principal double-acts in the sport’s history is no more.

The 51-year-old has overseen all 65 of Verstappen’s victories, as well as his four world championships. Some will put those achievements down to Adrian Newey’s design team or the Dutchman’s formidable talent, but Horner turned Red Bull into a winning machine.

More recently, they have looked lost. Verstappen has won two races and scored four pole positions in the RB21 but even he has succumbed to the car’s volatile handling at times, with Oscar Piastri nearly 70 points ahead in the relatively serene McLaren.

The disappointing results had put further strain on the relationship between Horner and Jos Verstappen. The world champion’s father reportedly vowed to ‘keep the pressure’ on the team boss during a heated garage row at Silverstone.

Max Verstappen is open to Christian Horner reunion in the future

A report from The Race reiterates that Verstappen Sr is ‘not a big fan of Horner’. They clashed publicly in 2024 and never seemed to fully mend the divide.

More importantly, though, Verstappen has ‘no issue working with Horner’. That puts to bed any speculation that the superstar driver engineered the leadership change.

• READ MORE: Toto Wolff has developed one Max Verstappen concern to spark his U-turn on Mercedes signing the Red Bull driver

Verstappen’s priority is, and has always been, having the fastest car. If Horner is working for a team who can provide that, he wouldn’t be against a reunion.

While a departure for 2026 is unlikely, the Toro Rosso graduate won’t tolerate significant underperformance from Red Bull under the new regulations. Mercedes have been his chief suitors this year, but more teams will have vacancies for 2027.

Christian Horner has already played decisive role in Max Verstappen’s 2026 Red Bull prospects

Ironically, Horner has already played a crucial role in determining Verstappen’s 2026 title chances, as noted by FOX Sports. Development of next year’s cars – along with Red Bull’s first independent power unit – is already very advanced.

Horner refused to relinquish any power at Milton Keynes, so he oversaw all of those departments. Successor Laurent Mekies won’t be able to introduce an entirely new blueprint overnight.

This week, Horner has been linked with Cadillac, who will join the grid in 2026. It would be extremely difficult to attract Verstappen to that kind of project, which will likely need years to become competitive.

Ferrari are set to turn down Horner and renew the contract of Fred Vasseur instead. Lewis Hamilton is out of contract at the end of 2026, so there are bound to be some rumours about Verstappen moving to Maranello.