Horner wants Max to stick with ‘aggressive’ driving style

Jamie Woodhouse
Christian Horner and Max Verstappen talk. Spain, February 2022.

Red Bull principal Christian Horner talks to his driver Max Verstappen in the garage. Spain, February 2022.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner does not want Max Verstappen to move away from his “forceful” and “aggressive” style.

Verstappen has been known for his robust style behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car throughout his career, though it came under the most intense spotlight yet when he battled Lewis Hamilton for the 2021 Drivers’ Championship.

Track limits and what was deemed as forcing another driver off became controversial topics during the season, with Verstappen more commonly proving the instigator when he and Hamilton went wheel-to-wheel.

Ultimately Verstappen went on to win the 2021 title, the first of his career, and Horner does not want his driver to change anything about his driving style.

Asked by BBC Sport if he wants Verstappen to continue driving the same way, Horner replied: “Absolutely.

“Max is a forceful driver. He’s an aggressive driver.

“And that driving style is why he was voted the most popular driver in Formula 1 [during a fan survey conducted by F1 in 2021].

“You just know he is going to give 110%.”

Max Verstappen and Christian Horner watch the screen. Barcelona February 2022
Red Bull World Champion Max Verstappen and team boss Christian Horner looking up at the data screen. Barcelona February 2022

Horner was then asked if he has at any stage instructed Verstappen to tone down the aggression, but he was not willing to give such information away.

“We talk about any incident, but it’s always going to be between me and him,” said the Red Bull principal.

Horner did though suggest that of all the incidents relating to Verstappen’s style in 2021, some were examples of lessons learned for the Dutchman.

That being said, Horner does not think it is right to mark out Verstappen as the only driver with an aggressive streak out on the track.

 

Asked if Verstappen should drive the same way out of all the moves in question, Horner responded: “Well, no, you’re always going to learn, aren’t you?

“And I think the way he drove last year, he showed tremendous maturity – and let’s not forget the others make mistakes.

“There are other drivers that make aggressive actions as well, you know.

“But, yeah, Max is an aggressive driver. That’s his DNA; that’s who he is. Yes, he will always be close to the limit and he will only learn from his experiences. I’ve got no doubt about that.”

 

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