Max Verstappen makes stance clear on Christian Horner as Red Bull star says father 'is not a liar'

Horner was last week cleared of any wrongdoing after an independent investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague.

However, less than 24 hours after the results surfaced, an anonymous email account leaked alleged text messages and photographs purporting to be evidence in the investigation.

Jos Verstappen, father of the three-time back-to-back world champion, was in Bahrain and gave a scathing verdict on Horner.

He told the Daily Mail: "There is tension here while he remains in position. The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can't go on the way it is. It will explode.

"He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems."

Horner has vowed to continue in the role he has held at Red Bull since 2005.

Verstappen senior will not be at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend but his son is already in the country preparing for the race.

The 26-year-old hasn't asked his dad whether he regrets the comments he made about Horner.

But Verstappen insists he wouldn't lie, saying: "I have not asked him that but my dad, from how I know him from go-karting, is very outspoken, and he is not a liar, that is for sure. That is what I can say about things.

"My dad and I are very close. We call every day. At the other end, I am not the guy who likes to speak a lot about certain stuff and I just want to focus on the driving. If there are issues, we try to resolve it within the team."

Horner reportedly held a meeting with Verstappen's manager Raymond Vermeulen this week but was not invited to Jos' birthday party on Monday.

Verstappen says he does not want to lose the working relationship he has with his dad, as well Vermeulen.

He insists he supports his dad but also wants issues at Red Bull to be resolved so that focus can be put back on the racing.

Verstappen added: "I was with him (Jos) until yesterday. We speak all the time, we are a team.

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"It's me, my dad and Raymond all together, and that will always be like that also. But I guess he clearly felt like that.

"But I think from my side, it doesn't matter being on one side or the other side.

"Of course, as a son of my dad, it would be weird to be on a different side, but from my side I just want to focus on the performance side of things and I just want to have less talk of what we are doing as a team outside of the track than the actual performance, which at the moment, we have a great car and we are looking forward to a great year."

Verstappen has been linked with a move away from Red Bull, with Mercedes needing a replacement for Lewis Hamilton in 2005.

But he says he still intends to see out the contract he has until 2028, saying: "That has of course always been the intention of signing. That's why we signed so long, to be here.

"And of course, it's about the performance of the car, and of course from 2026 onwards anyway that is a bit of a question mark with new regulations, but I knew that when I signed my contract.

"But I also know what they have done for me in my career, so the intention is of course absolutely to stay with this team because I really enjoy it and I'm also really happy within the team. As long as perform there is no reason also to leave."