Exclusive: Verstappen reflects on turbulent Red Bull period: ‘It was not nice’

Max Verstappen has looked back on the troubling period Red Bull endured at the start of the 2024 F1 season.

While the Dutchman was having great success on the track as he began his quest for a fourth F1 title, his father Jos was publicly criticising Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

The scathing remarks came as Horner was placed under investigation after allegations of inappropriate behaviour were made by a Red Bull employee. The Briton was eventually cleared, but the fallout extended to a power struggle between the Thai and Austrian owners at Red Bull.

The matter eventually cooled off - at least in the public eye - before Verstappen went on to score his fourth F1 title.

Speaking exclusively to RacingNews365, Verstappen asserted the fallout does not take away from the achievements of the year.

“I don't think it has overshadowed it,” Verstappen said. “Of course, in the beginning, it was not nice. Maybe for some people, it was a distraction.

“But at the same time, I never felt that in the engineering group of people were getting distracted by it.

“Everyone was focused on performance. Maybe people were a bit more tense here and there because of things that came out.

“But I think everyone is also professional enough to focus on their job.

“It’s not always easy but at the end of the day, I also have to focus on my job.”

Red Bull endured a dip in form in the middle of the campaign and fell to third in the constructors' standings.

However, a late-season surge ensured Verstappen fended off a threat from Lando Norris for the drivers' title.

When asked what the biggest lesson Red Bull has learned during the year, Verstappen replied: “How we dealt with the difficult times as a team. 

“It was quite stressful for everyone. I think we really stuck together and became stronger.”