Max Verstappen’s dad forced to DENY leaking Christian Horner sexts in Red Bull civil war after explosive row in Bahrain

MAX Verstappen’s dad denied being behind Christian Horner’s sext leak after the pair’s explosive paddock row at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Jos Verstappen, 51, also made bombshell comments just as Horner and wife Geri Halliwell put up a strong and united front on Saturday.

Jos, a former team-mate of Michael Schumacher, reportedly had a blazing row in Horner’s paddock office after the qualifying race on Friday night.

He is said to have left the office before returning to shake the Red Bull principal’s hand, the Mail reported.

When asked if he was involved behind Horner’s sext leak, Jos strongly denied the claims, saying: “That wouldn’t make sense.

“Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here?”

Verstappen Snr previously said Red Bull Racing will “explode” if Horner remains team principal.

He said: “There is tension here while he remains in position.

“The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is.

“It will explode.

“He is playing the victim, when he is causing the problems.”

And now Max Verstappen could be forced to turn into Mercedes after his dad’s explosive row with Christian Horner.

It threatens to rip Red Bull apart as Max has to choose between his father or the boss of his team.

And paddock sources believe Jos Verstappen’s friendship with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff could see the F1 star jump ship and take the seat left vacant by Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.

Wolff also stoked fires over Horner’s scandal, calling for more transparency as the F1 must “set their compass right”.

Wolff questioned Red Bull Racing’s handling of the probe and sext scandal and called on the FIA to act on it, the Mail reported.

That includes FIA president Mohammad ben Sulayem and F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali, who were both among the 149 recipients of Horner’s sext messages.

Speaking after Saturday’s Bahrain Grand Prix, Toto said: “Let’s see where it goes in the next few days.

“I would very much hope that the governing body and the commercial rights’ holder set the compass right.

“But the moment I continue to question how this has been handled, I am probably not doing any good to the whole issue, because then it could be seen as this just being about a power fight within F1.

“That’s why it should not be in the team’s [Red Bull’s] hands.

The Mercedes boss added: “It’s a much bigger topic than that and I don’t want to diminish the whole situation by making it seem like the Mercedes guy is talking about the Red Bull guys.”

The scandal surrounding Christian Horner comes amid long-term tensions at Red Bull Racing.

Rumours of an unrelated power struggle within the team’s leadership have swirled since the death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.

After the billionaire’s death, Red Bull drafted in a new board of directors to oversee the business.

Former RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was appointed chief executive.

Despite Red Bull enjoying its most successful season in F1 history in 2023, there was speculation of a rift between Horner and Helmut Marko – Red Bull GmBH’s motorsport advisor.

Rumours even went as far as to suggest Horner was determined to get rid of Marko, 80, from the team, reports the Telegraph.

The former professional driver has overseen the Red Bull driver development programme since 2005 and was a driving force in bringing Max Verstappen to the team.

But speculation was played down, with Horner only acknowledging there had been a “small difference of opinion” between himself and Marko.

He even suggested rumours may have been fanned by opponents, adding: “As we’ve tied up both championships, there’s not a lot to be talking about, so it’s very easy for others to wind the situation up.”

But Marko hinted at an internal wrangle when he commented: “I have a contract until the end of 2024 and in the end it’s the shareholders’ decision, not Christian Horner’s, and in the end it’s me who decides.”

Formula 1 reporter Erik van Haren said the power struggle appears to be coming to a “climax now”.

He told De Telegraaf: “[Horner and Marko] become more and more like water and fire.

“Although, of course, in the publicity they pretend that nothing is wrong.

“Horner is, of course, the team principal and the CEO of Red Bull Racing. More than a thousand people work there. Super important for the operational side of the whole story.

“However, it is of course known to all Formula 1 connoisseurs that Helmut Marko, the Austrian, pulls the big picture. So he decides who sits in those seats.

“And yes, Horner might be the guy who would like to do that too, but Helmut is the guy who makes the big decisions.

“So if you were to ask Max Verstappen, the most important man in that team, with a knife to your throat, if you had to choose between Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, you would always choose Helmut.”

Horner was appointed Team Principal of Red Bull’s F1 team in 2005, and has bagged 13 world titles along the way.

It comes as

On Saturday, Geri Halliwell shared an ­awkward hug and a cringey kiss with hubby Christian Horner amid the sexts leak.

The Spice Girl, 51, presented a united front with the under-fire F1 Red Bull boss before and after ­yesterday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

She had landed in the Middle East on Thursday night, as a torrent of sexually suggestive WhatsApp messages and ­pictures between Horner, 50, and a female employee began to circulate worldwide.

Sources said furious Geri “read the riot act” to him but put on a brave face for the cameras — to her husband’s “relief”.

Ginger Spice — in high heels, a white designer dress and clutching a Hermes bag — strode hand-in-hand with her ­husband to a hospitality area ahead of the race yesterday.

Horner then leaned in to plant an ­awkward kiss on his wife’s cheek while putting his arm around her back.

After Red Bull’s world champ Max Verstappen stormed to victory in the season opener yesterday, Geri was clasped tightly by her husband as she flashed a forced-looking smile for the cameras.

Horner gushed: “It’s been the best ­possible start to the season, very clinical and well-executed. The perfect start.”

The public displays of affection came as showbiz sources said Geri had considered the future of her nine-year marriage to Horner, father of her seven-year-old son.

One close to the singer said: “A lot of people who know her are astonished by this show of support. There is absolutely no doubt she is furious and has read him the riot act over what has happened.”

Meanwhile, Horner took to Instagram to express his gratitude to the Red Bull Racing team.

He hailed the “perfect start to the season” after his team won at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday.

Boss Horner congratulated driver Max Verstappen following his win.

The victory was secured despite the build up to the race being dominated by one topic – the internal investigation into Horner surrounding claims of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague.

In a post on Saturday night, Horner thanked his “hard working team” and their support.

He wrote: “What a weekend. The perfect start to the season.

“A big thank you to all the hard working team back in Milton Keynes for all their work over the winter to produce another great and very competitive car.

“To our stakeholders, illustrious partners and everyone here in Bahrain, thank you for your unending support and commitment to get us off to the best possible start.”

Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk