Max Verstappen has brushed off Christian Horner’s departure from Red Bull, insisting it won’t shake his long-term plans with the team.
The Dutch driver, fresh off his fourth world title in 2024, spoke ahead of the 2025 season opener in Australia. Horner, who led Red Bull for two decades and oversaw their rise to dominance, stepped down late last year amid internal shifts. Jonathan Wheatley now calls the shots as team principal.
“It’s a change, sure, but my focus stays on the car and the races,” Verstappen said. “I’m here until 2028, and that’s not changing because of this.”
Red Bull slipped in the constructors’ standings last year, finishing third behind McLaren and Ferrari. Verstappen admitted the RB20’s mid-season struggles hurt, but he praised the team’s winter work on the new RB21.
“We’ve got Liam Lawson alongside me now, and the goal is clear: fight back at the front,” he added, nodding to the updated 2025 lineup.
Despite rumors linking him to Mercedes—where Kimi Antonelli joins George Russell—Verstappen shut down speculation. “Red Bull is my home. We’re building something strong here.”
As the grid evolves, with Oliver Bearman at Haas and Jack Doohan at Alpine, Verstappen eyes a fifth crown. “Performance decides everything,” he said. “Let’s see what the track says.”
