The fizz is out of the can again at Red Bull, Jos Verstappen accusing his nemesis Christian Horner of stopping him taking part in the legends’ parade ahead of Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix.
To which Horner rejoined: ‘I didn’t veto it.’
And so this bitter enmity is relit in the Styrian mountains, where Jos’s triple world champion son will start Saturday morning’s 24-lap sprint from pole position, having put the tumult aside in qualifying on Friday.
Horner got wind of the idea and questioned whether this was wise given that Verstappen Snr has been a vocal critic of his since he (Horner) was accused of sending coercive text messages to a female colleague – a charge of which he was cleared by an internal investigation.
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Jos Verstappen (R) accused Christian Horner (L) of stopping him taking part in the legends’ parade ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix
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Verstappen Snr predicted in March that the team would ‘explode’ if Horner stayed in post, claiming he was the ‘real problem’.
And returning to the paddock for only the second time since that firework went up, Verstappen told Dutch media this weekend that Horner was being ‘childish’ in expressing doubts that he should take part in the parade.
Verstappen said: ‘I have heard from several sides that Horner has done everything he can not to let me drive and to make sure that I would not be filmed. Then I think, “Say it to my face.”’
Mail Sport understands Verstappen rejected Horner’s handshake when they met in the team’s hospitality area.
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Horner questioned whether the idea was wise given that Verstappen Snr has been a vocal critic of his
