Horner reveals 'open discussions' with Verstappen over F1 future

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has revealed that 'open discussions' with four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen means he never has any concern over speculation regarding his future. Verstappen was front and centre of conjecture last year, initially based on the early announcement of Lewis Hamilton's bombshell move from Mercedes to Ferrari that set the driver merry-go-round in motion, and then as the situation behind the scenes at Red Bull turned sour following allegations made against Horner by a female employee. The furore surrounding Verstappen was exacerbated by the fact that a clause emerged in his deal running through to the end of 2028 that if advisor, and long-time friend Helmut Marko left the team, then the Dutch driver could follow suit. It allowed Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff to take full advantage, with the Austrian making a play for Verstappen as a potential replacement for Hamilton. Wolff eventually opted to recruit junior Kimi Antonelli. With four years remaining on his contract with Red Bull, there remains speculation about Verstappen, with the 27-year-old heavily linked with Aston Martin for 2026 when the new power unit regulations kick in. Aston Martin has invested considerably over the past few years, building a new factory, wind tunnel, simulator, and attracting a host of major names, including Adrian Newey. Horner, however, has no concerns, stating that he and Verstappen have an open line of communication. "Max has a very open relationship with the team," said Horner, speaking to select media, including RacingNews365 . Claiming his relationship with Verstappen was "super" last year, he added: "Of course, you discuss things openly, as in any form of partnership." Declaring the way Verstappen handled the fervour surrounding him last year, Horner further noted: "He's made very clear what his position is towards the team. "And, of course, you're always going to discuss things behind closed doors. That's normal operation."