Christian Horner said in the upcoming Netflix series “Drive to Survive” that Max Verstappen and his father had no role in his July 2024 dismissal as Red Bull team principal. He blamed the decision on company chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff and adviser Helmut Marko, citing changes after founder Dietrich Mateschitz’s death and concerns over his control.
Horner, who left the team in September, expressed hurt at the abrupt exit and noted that investigations into earlier misconduct allegations had cleared him. The move came as Verstappen was still undecided on a 2026 contract, and Red Bull’s new principal Laurent Mekies later steadied the team for the season’s final races.