CHRISTIAN Horner was reportedly not invited to Max Verstappen’s dad’s lavish birthday bash in Dubai last weekend.
The alleged brutal snub came as Jos, 52, and Horner, 50, were filmed locked in a fiery exchange in Bahrain as the Red Bull chief continues to be embroiled in an embarrassing “sexting” scandal.
Verstappen Senior celebrated his birthday in style at a luxurious hotel in Dubai alongside his three-time world champ son, the driver’s manager Raymond Vermeulen and director of Red Bull Helmut Marko.
However, cracks in the Red Bull camp are showing as team boss Horner is said to have been NFI’d despite also staying in Dubai after the Bahrain Grand Prix, according to German Outlet Bild.
Jos, a former team-mate of Michael Schumacher, has also been dragged deeper into the chaos engulfing Red Bull amid claims that he is close to the woman Horner is accused of sexting.
The heat is back on Horner as he battles to save face at his £8million-a-year job after his private conversations with an alleged female colleague were leaked online last week.
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Only 24 hours before, the F1 chief had been cleared of misconduct towards the woman by an internal probe – allegations he had always denied.
The Red Bull chief met with Max Verstappen’s rep on Monday in a bid to calm soaring tensions after the driver’s dad warned the team will “explode” if Horner stays.
But the pair appear to be at odds as rumours continue that Jos wants Horner fired or he will push for his racing star son Max to move to rival teams Ferrari or Mercedes.
Jos’s close friendship with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff could help steer Max into jumping ship and take the seat left vacant by Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.
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On Sunday, Jos was even forced to deny he was behind the leaking of Horner’s alleged sexts.
When asked if he was involved, Jos shot back: “That wouldn’t make sense. Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here?”
Rumours suggest Verstappen Snr and Horner have been clashing for months – a row that is threatening to rip Red Bull apart if Max is forced to choose between his father or his boss.
After the race in Bahrain, Jos bluntly told the media that Red Bull Racing will “explode” if Horner remains team principal.
“There is tension here while he remains in position,” he said.
“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.”
Jos has overseen his son’s career like a hawk after taking part in 106 races as an F1 driver himself.
On Sunday, Max wished Jos happy birthday on X, formerly Twitter, posting a picture of him as a youngster in a model racing car with his dad crouched behind him.
Who is Jos Verstappen?
A FORMER F1 driver himself, Jos achieved two podiums in 106 races but is been better known for being the father of three-time world champ Max Verstappen.
Jos can frequently be seen behind the scenes at Red Bull during the race weekends and takes pride in supporting his son publicly.
However, he has been the subject of some scrutiny in the past.
After an incident in 1998 at a karting track where another man suffered a fractured skull, he avoided a suspended jail sentence after agreeing an out-of-court settlement with the victim.
Ten years later, he appeared in court, charged with assaulting his wife, Sophie Kumpen.
He was found not guilty of assault, but guilty of threatening Kumpen in text messages and of violating a previously issued restraining order.
He was fined and sentenced to three months of a probational, suspended prison sentence.
And in January 2012, he was arrested following accusations that he drove a car into his ex-girlfriend but was released two weeks later after the charge was withdrawn.
He has overseen his son’s career like a hawk and now, with a wedge drive between himself and Horner, it leaves Max Verstappen in an awkward position
Meanwhile, Horner’s outward message has been “business-as-usual” as he prepares for this week’s race in Saudi Arabia.
His Spice Girl wife Geri Halliwell has been standing by her man and the couple staged a very public show of unity in Bahrain.
The pair were seen holding hands, tightly embracing and even kissing in front of cameras locked on their every move in the paddock.
However, the Red Bull chief is said to still be in contact with his accuser as she still works at Red Bull’s HQ in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
Geri has reportedly laid down ground rules over her husband’s future behaviour and has demanded he cut contact with the employee.
And despite the performance in Bahrain, the Spice Girl is still trying to come to terms with the situation.
A pal told the Daily Mail: “Geri is wondering how on earth this all happened.
“She very much believes that things happen for a reason and so she can’t understand why this has been thrown her way and what it all means.”
While Geri was seemingly supported by her Spice Girls pals over the course of the investigation, they now seem to be “conflicted” over her scandal-hit husband.
An F1 source also told the Mail: “The humiliation is very hard for Geri.
“I think that will be the main problem. The other Spice Girls are very sympathetic and all feel really conflicted about Christian now.
“All those celebrity friends of hers who were happy to hang out with him will also be steering very clear. It’s a bad mess.”
When Horner was hit by the “sexually suggestive” messages allegations, Mel B, Mel C, Emma Bunton and Victoria Beckham were said to be rallying around Geri.
A source said at the time they were all quietly supporting her behind the scenes making sure she was okay.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
