Max Verstappen Encouraged by FIA President to Support Christian Horner Amid F1 Controversy

In a remarkable turn of events in Formula 1, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has reportedly asked Max Verstappen to publicly support Christian Horner during ongoing controversies. This surprising development, initially reported by BBC Sport, underscores the growing complexities within the F1 community, particularly involving Red Bull Racing and its team principal, Horner.

Key Takeaways:

• FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has made an unusual move by asking Max Verstappen to offer public backing to Christian Horner, as per a BBC Sport report.
• The request follows Verstappen’s earlier, more cautious show of support for Horner ahead of the highly anticipated Bahrain Grand Prix.
• The backdrop of this request is a series of controversies involving alleged leaks and an investigation relating to Christian Horner, stirring significant discussions in the F1 world.

The Formula 1 landscape is currently navigating through a storm of intrigue and contention, with the latest development featuring FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem reaching out to reigning world champion Max Verstappen. The aim: to garner public support for Red Bull Racing’s Team Principal, Christian Horner. This comes after Verstappen, in the days leading up to the Bahrain Grand Prix, offered a restrained endorsement of Horner, which did not go unnoticed by the F1 community and media.

The BBC Sport report reveals:

“On Sunday the Telegraaf reported that Max Verstappen had been asked by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of F1’s governing body the FIA, to back Horner publicly.

“BBC Sport has independently verified the story.

“Ben Sulayem’s approach came after Max Verstappen gave only qualified support to Horner when asked four times in the lead-up to the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday whether he had full faith and confidence in him.

“The FIA has been approached for comment.”

Further complicating the situation is the emergence of alleged leaked documents linked to an investigation involving Horner. These documents, having found their way to prominent figures in the F1 circuit, have sparked a flurry of speculation and debate, pondering over their content and the motivations behind their leak. Particularly notable is the timing of these leaks, coming soon after Horner had been cleared of charges levied by a female colleague, which has once again shone the spotlight on Red Bull Racing and its leadership.

The unfolding scenario paints a complex picture of alliances, trust, and power dynamics within the elite motorsport. With the FIA President’s unusual request to Verstappen, a new chapter in the ongoing saga of Formula 1’s political and personal battles is being written, one that could have lasting implications on the sport’s hierarchy and the public perception of its leading figures.