Piquet Jr softens Mercedes-Verstappen speculation

Max Verstappen’s future remains a key talking point heading into the Belgian Grand Prix, as Red Bull grapples with internal tensions and uncertainty following the mid-season ousting of team principal Christian Horner.

Adding fuel to the fire last week was Nelson Piquet Jr - former F1 driver, son of triple world champion Nelson Piquet, and brother of Verstappen’s partner Kelly - who sparked headlines by suggesting the Dutchman had already signed with Mercedes, but Piquet Jr is now rolling back those comments.

“That’s just a place where people go on holiday,” he said on the Pelas Pistas podcast, referencing reports that Verstappen and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff docked their yachts side by side in Sardinia last week.

“Max just wants to be where he thinks he can win. Does money play a role? Of course, but the most important factor is that he wants to be in a good car.

“The only two choices he has are Red Bull and Mercedes,” he added. “At McLaren, both drivers win, so yeah…”

Turning to the leadership drama at Red Bull, Piquet Jr said: “Maybe they sent Horner away to get him (Max) to stay, I don’t know. Maybe he’s already signed, but maybe he’s also already said no.”

Verstappen is believed to be weighing his options and will reportedly make a final decision on his future by the end of August.

Although he is under a long-term contract, Red Bull is not expected to block his departure, regardless of the famous exit clauses.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown, a vocal critic of Horner in the past, told TSN: “Maybe the timing is a surprise, but not the outcome. There’s been a lot of turmoil and tension over the last few years. It seems to have gotten worse.”

Brown added: “Given his age and his background in motorsport, I’d be surprised if he (Horner) didn’t reappear somewhere in the industry, but maybe he could be interested in managing a football team or something else.”

Meanwhile, The Sun reports growing unrest within Red Bull Racing, suggesting that Horner loyalists may be the source of continued internal leaks.

One employee recalled the mood after Horner’s dismissal: “It was only a day after Christian was sacked and a lot of the team were still upset when Mr (Helmut) Marko addressed us, but he just made a joke of it and told us to cheer up. He said, ‘You need to smile more.’ “It didn’t endear him to anyone.”

New Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, seen as part of the Austria-based power shift that has now re-elevated Marko post-Mateschitz era, has also reportedly drawn criticism for his leadership approach.

“Mintzlaff also said, ‘If you have any problems, just text your line manager,’” a staffer told the tabloid.

Friends close to Horner claim the long-serving team boss was caught completely off guard by the way he was dismissed.

“He thought he’d been called in to speak about another issue,” one source said of the meeting in a London hotel.

“He was just told, ‘You have to be there’ and was dumbfounded when he was ushered into a room and effectively sacked on the spot.”