Red Bull’s Max Verstappen delivered a resounding message to his Formula 1 competitors. Despite early challenges and controversy surrounding team principal Christian Horner, Verstappen clinched a decisive victory, overshadowing initial competition from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Leading his teammate Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to secure the top spot, Verstappen’s prowess on the track was evident. Even as the Bahrain weekend was overshadowed by off-track issues involving Horner, including allegations of inappropriate behavior, Verstappen remained focused on the race.
The lead-up to the Grand Prix had been dominated by Horner’s off-track matters, as a complaint of inappropriate behavior had been lodged against him by a female employee. However, on the day before the on-track events commenced, Red Bull’s head office announced the dismissal of the grievance, attempting to clear the air.
Nevertheless, a new twist emerged when a cache of messages purportedly involving Horner was circulated to Formula 1 personnel and media within 24 hours. During the qualifying sessions, Verstappen was repeatedly questioned about his confidence in Horner as the Red Bull team principal but opted not to provide a definitive response.
The controversy surrounding Horner did not go unnoticed, as he and his wife, former Spice Girl Geri Horner, made a deliberate appearance for the cameras during the race weekend. Red Bull’s main shareholder, Thai businessman Chalerm Yoovidhya, flew in to offer public support for Horner, though declining to respond to BBC Sport’s inquiries.
