Horner Hits Back at Wolff Over Verstappen Talks Amid Mercedes Interest

Christian Horner takes a swipe at Toto Wolff while commenting on discussions about Max Verstappen moving to Mercedes

"Today, I noticed Toto's vehicle wasn't exactly excelling."

Christian Horner has taken a swipe at Toto Wolff in response to remarks about Mercedes' discussions with Max Verstappen during the summer break regarding a potential switch to Brackley.

During the weekend of the Dutch Grand Prix, Wolff disclosed that he had conversations with Verstappen's team during the summer hiatus to explore the option of bringing the three-time world champion on board.

Mercedes aimed to attract Verstappen as their new pick for Lewis Hamilton's spot, especially during Red Bull's dip in performance and the chaos happening behind the scenes.

Nonetheless, it seems that Verstappen is set to continue with Red Bull through 2025.

In a conversation with a few media outlets, including Crash.net, at Zandvoort, Horner expressed that he had no concerns about Verstappen leaving the team in 2025.

"He expressed his astonishment at the extensive conversation surrounding this subject in the public media."

"The understanding between us and Max has always been transparent, and while others may speculate, we're satisfied with the current state of things."

Verstappen leads Norris by 70 points in the drivers' standings, yet his championship victory isn't guaranteed due to McLaren's strong recent performances.

Horner was questioned on whether Red Bull's lackluster performance might affect Verstappen's decision to remain with the team until 2026.

He swiftly highlighted Mercedes' slow speed at Zandvoort this weekend, taking a jab at Wolff by stating, "It's our responsibility to perform. We are committed until 2028, so the onus is on us to deliver.

"Toto's vehicle didn't seem to be performing up to par today."

Verstappen's agreement with the team extends through 2028, however, he might have the option to exit Red Bull if they cannot provide a car that can contend.

Horner acknowledges the truth of the matter, yet he firmly believes that Verstappen will stay with Red Bull as long as they keep performing well in races.

"Listen, 2028 is quite some time from now. It's our responsibility to deliver a car that can win races," he further stated. "Are you planning to stick around until '28? Just think about it. By 2025… every agreement includes some aspect of performance criteria.

"We won't discuss the specifics of those components, but we're aware of our position as long as we supply a car that can compete."

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