RED Bull chief Christian Horner met with Max Verstappen’s rep on Monday in a bid to calm soaring tensions in his F1 team.
The crisis talks in Dubai came just 48 hours after the Dutch driver’s dad, Jos, said Red Bull would “explode” if Horner remained in his job.
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Max’s manager Raymond Vermeulen is understood to have acted on behalf of the Verstappens, who weren’t in attendance.
A source said the summit – reportedly attended by senior Red Bull figures – “went well”.
Horner has faced intense scrutiny in recent weeks following “sext” and harassment allegations made against him by a female colleague.
An internal investigation by Red Bull cleared the 50-year-old who always denied the claims.
Read More on Christian Horner
Speaking after his son won this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, Verstappen senior hinted “victim” Horner should resign.
He told the Daily Mail: “There is tension here while he (Horner) remains in position.
“The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode.
“He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”
The comments came as a video emerged of Jos locked in a “heated” exchange with Horner before the start of Sunday’s race.
Following the race Horner said he was “absolutely confident” he would stay on as Red Bull boss for the remainder of the season after overseeing Verstappen lead a one-two finish from team-mate Sergio Perez.
Responding to Jos Verstappen’s comments, a Red Bull Racing spokesperson said: “There are no issues here. The team are united and we are focused on racing.”
The next grand prix takes place in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
