Horner Dismisses Mercedes' Chase as Red Bull Rallies Behind Verstappen

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has firmly rejected speculation that Max Verstappen might defect to Mercedes. Following a surprising dip in form and suggestions that Mercedes held "conversations" regarding the Dutch world champion, Horner assured fans that Red Bull remains fully fortified. “We haven’t suddenly become idiots overnight,” he said, emphasizing that the core team responsible for Red Bull's dominant era remains intact. 

Mercedes’ interest in Verstappen emerged after Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari for the 2025 season. Verstappen is under contract until 2028, and his four consecutive world titles suggest he’s unlikely to jump ship. Horner also acknowledged Mercedes' “noise” but praised Red Bull’s depth, even as McLaren currently dominates much of the 2025 campaign.

Source: Sky Sports