Max Verstappen launches impassioned defence of his father amid ongoing Christian Horner scandal as world champion insists Jos is 'not a liar' after he called for the Red Bull chief to quit

Max Verstappen today made an impassioned defence of his father Jos, telling the world: ‘He’s not a liar.’ 

The triple world champion was responding to Verstappen Snr’s incendiary comments in Mail Sport on Sunday, in which he said Red Bull would ‘explode’ if Christian Horner stayed in post as team principal in spite of the scandal that stunned Formula One.

Asked ahead of Saturday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix whether his father regretted his comments, Verstappen said: ‘I have not asked him that but my dad, from how I know him from go-karting, is very outspoken, and he is not a liar, that is for sure. That is what I can say about things.

‘My dad and I are very close. We call every day. At the other end, I am not the guy who likes to speak a lot about certain stuff and I just want to focus on the driving. If there are issues, we try to resolve it within the team.’

Horner, 50, has vowed to remain in £8million-a-year job after being cleared of ‘coercive behaviour’ towards a female colleague – though his position was damaged when an extraordinary email – sent anonymously to key figures with F1 – revealed he exchanged sexually suggestive WhatsApp messages with the employee.

Red Bull star Max Verstappen (above) has made an impassioned defence of his father Jos

Jos Verstappen (right) claimed Red Bull will 'explode' if Christian Horner remains at the team

It comes as the husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell fights for his future at Red Bull amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female member of staff

Vertappen added: ‘I don’t see myself in F1 without my Dad and (manager) Raymond Vermeulen.’ 

Rumours circulated that Verstappen Snr briefed against Horner out of some kind of vendetta. He has denied that emphatically to Mail Sport. 

Max said: ‘The only one who knows that is my dad himself. People will make up and speculate and think they know why he said certain things, but he is the only one who knows.

‘Social media is there to speculate and make up stuff and there is not much I can do about that.

Horner and Verstappen have enjoyed three straight world championship wins together

‘I am not angry about that because I know what my dad is and how he is like.’

Verstappen did not offer such unequivocal backing to Horner – though he did call from some peace to break out to allow him to get on with racing. 

He won the season opener in Bahrain and is aiming for his 19th win in 20 outings on Jeddah’ super-quick track this weekend.

He said: ‘Everyone in general, even if you have arguments or not, there are things that can be worked out. Everyone is man enough and respectful enough anyway.

‘I have not always agreed with everything that has happened – and I am not talking about lately – just in general in F1 and that is where sometimes it is good to have a discussions. 

'You might agree to disagree, that is what happens in a relationship.’

Asked if he could stay at Red Bull with Horner in post, Verstappen said: ‘Well, we are at the moment. I saw a lot of stories about that, which was a bit weird to read. But from my side, what I want, and it doesn’t matter who is involved in the team or not, is to have a quiet environment where everyone is happy to work.’ 

There has been speculation about a possible move to Mercedes – a nuclear option. It is certainly a powerful bargaining chip.

Verstappen is signed until 2028, but there are escape clauses that might see him move earlier 

Verstappen is signed up until 2028, but there are escape clauses that might allow him to move earlier. One is if his ally Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsports adviser, were to leave the team.

Fuel was added to the Mercedes link when Jos met with team principal Toto Wolff in Bahrain last week.

Asked about the possibility over transferring down the pit lane, Verstappen said: ‘The thing is nobody would have seen that Lewis would move to Ferrari. You never know in general life what happens, or comes to you, or happens around you, or what might influence you, so you can never say 100 per cent that that is how it is going to be, and that is the way I approach my life.

‘I am very relaxed and very happy at the team and the performance is there so there is no reason to leave.’