Christian Horner cannot understand Max Verstappen rumours: 'We wonder where on earth that comes from!'

Christian Horner and Red Bull cannot comprehend where the speculation engulfing Max Verstappen originates from.

Since early last year, the team's star driver has been heavily and persistently linked with a move away from the Milton Keynes squad.

The team principal of the six-time constructors' champions insists the Dutchman is committed to the energy drinks outfit, despite ties to Mercedes and Aston Martin refusing to go away.

Although the 27-year-old added a fourth consecutive F1 drivers' championship to his collection last season, Red Bull suffered a significant drop-off in performance with the RB20.

It is something that cost Sergio Perez his job at the team amid poor form, and it has bled into the current campaign with the RB21.

Nonetheless, Horner maintains there is not the same noise internally as there is on the outside.

"Max is a huge part of our team, and he's very much enmeshed in everything that we're doing development-wise," he told the BBC's The Inside Track podcast.

"There's an awful lot of noise externally. Sometimes we wonder where on earth that comes from, because there is not the same noise internally.

"Max has got his head down, he's fully committed, he's voiced that commitment to the team, to all the leadership within the team.

"And everybody's just focused on improving the car and competing for the world championship.

"So yes, where the headlines come from is sometimes difficult to understand."

Horner: 'You win together, you lose together, and you stick together'

There have been considerable internal politics for Red Bull to navigate since the start of last year, with the now-dismissed allegations of improper behaviour made against Horner being the catalyst for a power struggle within the team.

Those included tensions between the Briton and Helmut Marko - who is a close ally of the Verstappens - and the driver's father, Jos.

It is thought this has fed into Verstappen's supposed dissatisfaction, as well as the loss of Adrian Newey and Honda to Aston Martin.

Through that instability, Horner is adamant the Dutchman will stay put over the winter, highlighting what the team has achieved with - and for - the driver.

"Yep," the 51-year-old replied when asked if Verstappen will be there next season. "He's got a contract until 2028."

"Of course, if we can't deliver him a competitive car, inevitably he'll raise questions about that, but he's absolutely committed.

"This team has provided him with a car that won 64 grands prix so far [and] four world championships. 

"He enjoys working with the people. He has a great relationship with the team, the engineering staff, and we're all in it together at the end of the day. And, as a team, you win together, you lose together, and you stick together."