- Max Verstappen has been implored to back Red Bull team boss Christian Horner
- The team principal was cleared of allegations of ‘coercive behaviour’ this week
- Alleged messages have since come to light, with questions arising on his future
Mail Sport can report that FIA president Mohammad Ben Sulayem implored Max Verstappen to back Red Bull team principal Christian Horner in a guarded chat after qualifying on Friday.
The triple world champion, who took pole and went on to win the race in Bahrain, was seen in discussion with motor racing’s most senior figure in parc ferme. Both men hid what they said behind their hands.
But according to an observer standing close by, Ben Sulayem told Verstappen: ‘You must publicly back Christian.’
Another source said that Verstappen wasn’t entirely convinced by the advice. The Dutchman was equivocal when asked about Horner in the press conference afterwards.
The Red Bull team principal has been the subject of an internal investigation over the past month, after allegations were made against him of ‘coercive behaviour’ towards a female colleague.
Max Verstappen (right) was seen speaking with FIA president Mohammad Ben Sulayem (left) after qualifying at the Bahrain Grand Prix
The FIA boss reportedly implored Verstappen to back his team principal Christian Horner
Verstappen and Horner (right) both celebrated the Dutchman’s victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix
Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing on Wednesday but the following day screenshots of a text conversation allegedly between the 50-year-old Formula One boss and the employee that made the allegations were leaked via an anonymous email.
The email was sent to leading F1 figures and contained 79 documents that included some messages of a sexual nature.
The Red Bull Chief said on Friday that his ‘focus is very much with what’s on the track’ but refused to comment on the alleged messages.
Ben Sulayem had also broken his silence on Friday, telling the Financial Times that the controversy that has been surrounding Horner is ‘damaging to the sport… this is damaging on a human level’.
The team principal was pictured celebrating Red Bull’s victory with Verstappen and several other team members on Saturday evening.
He was also seen stood next to his partner Geri Halliwell watching the podium celebrations on Saturday night.
Horner’s partner, Geri Halliwell landed in Bahrain on Thursday and was pictured with him after Saturday’s race
Ben Sulayem commented the controversy which has engulfed F1 during the opening weekend of the season
Jos Verstappen (right) claims Red Bull will ‘explode’ if Christian Horner remains at the team
But some have expressed concerns should Horner stay in his position, with Jos Verstappen, father of three-time world champion, Max, claiming the Milton Keynes-based racing team would ‘explode’ if the Englishman stays in charge.
‘There is tension here while he (Horner) remains in position,’ he exclusively told Mail Sport.
‘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.’
Toto Wolff has today also spoken out on the situation and called for Formula One’s governing body to ‘set the compass right’.
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