The father of the team's F1 champion Max Verstappen has said the controversy surrounding Red Bull manager Christian Horner is “driving people apart”.
Anonymous emails containing messages purporting to implicate Horner were leaked on Thursday, a day after Red Bull dismissed allegations of inappropriate conduct against Horner.
Horner declined to say whether the leaked messages were genuine.
“We can't continue like this,” said former F1 driver Jos Verstappen.
“The situation is not good for the team and is driving people closer together.”
Verstappen also denied that he was the source of the leaks about Horner.
Speaking to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, the 51-year-old said: “But why would I do something like that? Max has a contract with Red Bull until 2028 and he's been doing great, and here he is. “I feel at home. I feel at home here.” I have no interest in that at all. ”
Verstappen made similar comments to the Daily Mail, saying Red Bull would “explode” if Horner remained in his position, adding: “He's playing the victim when he's the one causing the problem. There is,” he added.
Verstappen told BBC Sport that he made the comments to the two newspapers after his fight with Horner in Bahrain.
He added that Max saw the comments but didn't say anything.
BBC Sport has contacted Red Bull for comment.
Verstappen's intervention is potentially significant as his son wields significant influence within Red Bull as a result of his on-track success.
This also reflects internal tensions that are known to exist within Red Bull, between team principal Horner and the company's motorsport advisor Helmut Marko. Even between the Thai majority owner and the executives at the Austrian headquarters.
Last year, Verstappen supported Marko, an Austrian who had a falling out with Horner.
Ownership of the company is split, with Thailand's Yoovidhya family holding 51% and Austria's Red Bull holding 49% under Mark Mateschitz, son of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who passed away in October 2022. is held.
