Max Verstappen recently remarked that the atmosphere in the Formula 1 paddock has become noticeably calmer now that Christian Horner is no longer part of the sport’s daily drama. The Dutch driver explained that the constant undercurrent of tension that used to exist between team principals and their personnel has eased, making the environment "less stressful" for everyone involved. Verstappen’s comments came on the heels of his first victory of the current season – the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was held in Malaysia – marking the 72nd win of his career.
All four of his world championships have been won while Horner was still the team principal at Red Bull Racing, a period that many observers have linked to a particularly intense rivalry between the two men. With Horner now out of the picture, Verstappen feels the overall mood has softened. In an interview with the Press Association, the champion driver elaborated on his perspective: "To be honest, I like to see people get on. It is not nice when you constantly have tension between people.
Of course, from the outside, people like it, but honestly between the teams, it is better when you have just a friendly relationship. It is not as spicy, but I obviously quite like how things are going at the moment with everyone's behaviour, let's put it like that. It is less stressful.
We are all leading a stressful life and when you can take a bit of stress out at times, it is good." He went on to address the rumours surrounding Horner’s possible return to the sport. Horner, who has hinted at an "unfinished business" and expressed that managing Ferrari would be a "dream", remains a figure of speculation.
Verstappen responded, "He has shown he did a good job. Of course, people spread a lot of rumours and I don't know how much of that is true. I don't want to sound rude, but it is also not my problem or concern.
He wants to come back and if there is a good opportunity I am sure he will but I don't know where that is going to be." The conversation also touched on Verstappen's own future. After signing a new four‑year contract with Red Bull, the driver admitted he had been in discussions with other teams, including a potential move to Ferrari. When asked whether he would consider such a switch, Verstappen was unequivocal: "I only want to win.
I am not a nostalgic type. Do I have a lot of respect for the Ferrari brand? Absolutely.
But if that means you then commit yourself, and you are driving P5 or P6, what's the point? I am very performance‑driven, and I have won a lot with this team already. It is a second family at Red Bull, and the challenge of rebuilding is what's driving me." Verstappen also reflected on the longevity of drivers in the sport. He noted that while Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso has signed a contract that will keep him racing beyond his 46th birthday, he does not see himself staying on the grid for that long.
"Staying here until then would mean I have dedicated more than half of my life to Formula 1, and that is probably a bit too much," he said. "I have extended for a few more years, and then I will look again and say to myself, 'can I commit 100 per cent?' If not, or there are other fun things around that deserves more time, then maybe I don't continue. I also want to spend more time at home and see the kids growing up." Looking ahead, the Formula 1 calendar moves to Singapore for the final Sprint weekend of the season, with the race weekend kicking off on Friday. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 from 10:30 a.m., and fans can stream the coverage via NOW without a long‑term contract.
Overall, Verstappen’s remarks underline a shift in the sport’s internal dynamics. While rivalry and competition remain at the heart of Formula 1, the removal of a key source of friction – in this case, Christian Horner – appears to have softened the atmosphere, allowing drivers and teams to focus more on performance and less on interpersonal drama. This change, according to Verstappen, not only reduces stress but also fosters a more collaborative environment that could benefit the sport’s long‑term health and its participants’ well‑being.