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Max Verstappen Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Christian Horner After Shock Red Bull Sacking

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Aditya Pandya | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 1:58 PM ET

Red Bull has announced Christian Horner‘s exit from the team mid-way through the 2025 season. The team was undergoing some extremely difficult situations as they gave it their all to improve their form. However, Horner’s controversial personal problems further caused him problems in leading the Austrian outfit effectively. Now, Max Verstappen has issued a heartfelt tribute to the outgoing team principal after he completes over two decades of leading the team.

The ground-effect era remained nothing short of a rollercoaster ride for Red Bull. The team emerged as the most dominant at the beginning of the regulations. However, Milton Keynes lost performance drastically and went from fighting for race wins to being just a mid-field team. Because of the persistent performance issues, Max Verstappen and Co. were already trying to get Christian Horner snubbed from the team. Moreover, this massive leadership change came during Verstappen’s rumors of leaving Red Bull are at an all-time high.

Regardless of Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner‘s soured relationship in recent days, Max Verstappen’s long-time manager Raymond Vermeulen had clarified that the former had no role in the team principal’s exit. Now, the reigning world champion took to Instagram and issued a heartfelt farewell message to the 51-year-old.

Christian Horner was present during Max Verstappen’s first race win at Red Bull during the 2016 Spanish GP. As such, the Dutchman recalled that moment and how the Team Principal-Driver duo shared some extreme highs. Horner led the team for a major chunk of Verstappen’s time at Red Bull as he achieved four coveted drivers’ titles. After breaking countless records and making some great memories, the reigning world champion thanked the 51-year-old for everything he did for him.

From my first race win, to four world championships, we have shared incredible successes. Winning memorable races and breaking countless records. Thank you for everything, Christian!
Max Verstappen said via Instagram, @maxverstappen1

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A post shared by Max Verstappen (@maxverstappen1)

Max Verstappen camp accepts drivers’ title ‘no longer possible’

Max Verstappen started the 2025 season off on a high note, winning two out of the 12 total races. However, in the remaining races, Verstappen has fallen off drastically, as he achieved a total of five podiums only. The Dutchman is currently 69 points adrift of the championship lead to Oscar Piastri. Keeping in mind the ever-widening point disparity, the 27-year-old’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, accepts the inevitable.

Raymond Vermeulen asserted that Verstappen had a contract with Red Bull and wanted to honor it as much as possible, like he had for the past 11 years. Following Christian Horner’s exit, Max Verstappen and Co. want the dominant pace to return. While the 27-year-old is prepared to give it his all with the material available to the team, Vermeulen candidly accepts that a drivers’ championship is no longer possible to be achieved.

We have a contract with Red Bull and are committed, as we have been for eleven years. We now mainly want the performance to return. And quickly too. Max wants to get the best out of the material he has at his disposal, but we also realize that the championship is no longer possible.
Raymond Vermeulen said, as reported by Formule1.nl

The 2025 season has been very troublesome for Max Verstappen, even though he has tried his best with the mediocre challenger. Following Horner’s exit, the leadership positions are believed to be distributed among many people. Now, time will tell if the Austrian constructor re-emerges as the dominant force they once were during the beginning of the ground-effect era.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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