Max Verstappen has claimed the Formula One paddock is ‘less stressful’ without Christian Horner – as his former Red Bull boss eyes a return to the sport.
Horner left Red Bull, where he led Verstappen to all four of his four drivers’ titles, last year and the 52-year-old recently declared he had ‘unfinished business’ and spoke of his ‘dream’ to lead Ferrari.
Despite the Tifosi since declaring confidence in team principal Fred Vasseur, Horner’s potential return remains on the hottest topics on the grid.
Horner’s sparring with Mercedes counterparts Toto Wolff and McLaren’s Zak Brown shaped F1 for much of the past decade.
But Verstappen, who won his first victory of the season in Malaysia last weekend, insisted a potential Horner comeback is not required to reignite a paddock once compared to a ‘Piranha Club’ because of its ferocity.
Max Verstappen won four drivers’ championships under Christian Horner at Red Bull
Verstappen said: ‘To be honest, I like to see that people get on. It is not nice when you constantly have tension between people. Of course, from the outside, people like it, but honestly between the teams, it is better when you have just a friendly relationship.
‘It is not as spicy, but I obviously quite like how things are going at the moment, with everyone’s behaviour, let’s put it like that.
‘It is less stressful. We are all leading a stressful life and, when you can take a bit of stress out of it at times, it is good.
‘He has shown he did a good job. Of course, people spread a lot of rumours (about Horner’s return), and I don’t know how much of that is true.
‘I don’t want to sound rude, but it is also not my problem or concern. He wants to come back, and if there is a good opportunity, I am sure he will do it, but I don’t know where that is going to be.’
