Max Verstappen has dismissed claims that the internal turbulence at Red Bull Racing last year left him frustrated, insisting the team handled their issues fine.
While Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive Formula 1 drivers’ championship in 2024, Red Bull endured a turbulent year, marked by on-track struggles with the RB20 and a series of off-track controversies.
Red Bull had started the season strongly, but their dominance was soon overshadowed by an investigation into team principal Christian Horner.
A female employee lodged a complaint against Horner for alleged inappropriate behavior, but he was cleared of any wrongdoing, and an appeal was subsequently dismissed.
As the team worked to recover, reports emerged of a power struggle between Horner and senior advisor Helmut Marko.
Further fuelling the tension, Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, became embroiled in a public disagreement with Horner, creating a media frenzy that cast a shadow over the team’s successes.
Speaking about the controversies, Verstappen said they had little impact on him personally. “For me, it doesn’t matter so much what is said by outsiders,” he explained.
“What matters to me is what happens in the team internally, not people who have nothing to do with us.”
Verstappen acknowledged that the team faced challenges but credited Red Bull for resolving the issues constructively. “There has been noise in the team, one hundred percent. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be written about either.
“But I think we were able to solve it well between everyone,” he said.
Speculation that Verstappen might leave Red Bull for rivals such as Mercedes or Aston Martin added to the uncertainty, though the Dutchman firmly denied the rumors.
“There was no need to be (angry),” he insisted. “Everyone knew how I stood in it anyway and what I thought was important for the team.”
Despite the off-track drama, Verstappen reiterated his commitment to Red Bull, underlining his confidence in the team’s ability to move forward.
Recharge on 🔋 pic.twitter.com/WZ2QLJ6rmh
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) December 19, 2024
