Potential title: “Adrian Newey’s Departure from Red Bull: No Threat to Max Verstappen, Says Christian Horner”

Could the recently announced departure of Adrian Newey set off a domino effect at Red Bull? In Milton Keynes, they are sure there is no such risk. They are not worried about Max Verstappen either, as Newey’s exit leaves him with no weapons to use.

As we saw in the case of Helmut Mark, important characters in the team can be linked together and contractually; if one leaves, the other has the right to leave the stable without any penalty. However, nothing like that connects Max Verstappen with Adrian Newey, said team boss Christian Horner in Miami.

“NO,” he answered clearly Christian Horner when Sky Sports reporters were asked if the “key man clause” could open the door for Verstappen. “Of course Max’s contract will be confidential, but there are no contracts regarding Adrian that would in any way bind Adrian to Max.

“They had a good relationship over the years, as did the previous riders. Max also understands that there was a planning process before this, it is not a bolt from the blue. The structure will not change after Adrian leaves,” reassuring the leader who has been in the paddock the longest.

The second question is whether Christian Horner knows Max Verstappen’s contract in detail. While there was speculation about Helmut Mark’s possible departure, news came that the Austrian wing led by a sports consultant had been able to add a clause to the Dutch driver’s contract, according to which Verstappen can also leave if Mark leaves. . Christian Horner was not even needed to sign this change; one of the officers, Helmut Marko, was enough.

Contracts are one thing, but you need motivation to find holes in them. Max Verstappen assured before the weekend in Florida that he would not be attracted to another team, even if they pay him 150 million dollars a year. It’s all about performance.

However, it seems that it is not in the power of Max Verstappen or Christian Horner to close the issue of the departure of the Dutchman. Someone keeps opening it; such as Toto Wolff, for example. Despite this, Horner is not afraid of anything, certainly not “behind the scenes”.

“You report this backstage conversation every week, but [Max] he’s still here” he laughed Horner. “Max is happy in this team. He’s got an amazing team of engineers around him, a great car, the best on the grid, and he’s in the shape of his life. This isn’t about contracts, it’s about satisfaction. I think that goes for every rider. There is a good environment around him, in which he enjoys.”