Verstappen: Paddock 'less stressful' post-Horner

Max Verstappen said the F1 paddock feels “less stressful” after Christian Horner’s exit, arguing that constant tension between people isn’t healthy—even if some observers may enjoy it from the outside. Verstappen made the comments in an interview with the Press Association, amid ongoing speculation about Horner’s future. Horner, 52, has spoken about “unfinished business” and recently said he dreams of leading Ferrari, prompting Ferrari to express “full confidence” in team principal Fred Vasseur. Verstappen also downplayed the need for Horner’s return for the paddock to stay energized, emphasizing a preference for friendly team dynamics. He added that he doesn’t know whether rumors about Horner are true. Verstappen recently extended his Red Bull contract for four more years after his Malaysian GP win—his 72nd—while discussing plans to reassess later about committing fully to Formula One.