CHRISTIAN Horner and Max Verstappen’s dad, Jos, were seen in what appeared to be a heated argument during the Formula 1 season opener.
Reports of cracks in the Red Bull camp follow Horner’s embarrassing sexting scandal – where intimate text messages he sent to a colleague were leaked online.
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Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner have reportedly fallen out after a recent sexting row Credit: Getty
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Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen had what appeared to be a heated argument on Saturday nightCredit: SKY SPORTS
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Still with son Max, who won the F1 season opener at the weekend Credit: Getty
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Horner with his wife Geri Halliwell, who supported her husband at the Grand Prix
And F1 world champion Verstappen was embroiled in drama when his father Jos Verstappen sought Christian Horner’s head.
Rumors suggest Verstappen Senior and Horner have been at odds for months, with the pair reportedly having an explosive row on Friday night.
Sky Sports footage of what appeared to be a fresh spat between the pair on Saturday suggested cracks in Red Bull’s squad were widening under increasing pressure.
Jos even said Horner’s Red Bull Racing team would “explode” if he stayed in first place and could be “torn apart”.
READ MORE ABOUT CHRISTIAN HORNER
And his close friendship with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff could have led to Max being forced to abandon ship and take the seat vacated by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari.
Jos bluntly told reporters after Max took victory in the opening F1 race: “There is tension here as he [Horner] remains in position.
“The team is in danger of falling apart. It cannot continue as it is.
“He’s going to explode. He plays the victim when he’s causing trouble.”
Last week, Horner, 50, was cleared in an internal Red Bull investigation into inappropriate behavior following a complaint by a female colleague.
But just 24 hours after the fact – hundreds of messages were leaked on social media via anonymous email.
The racing boss did not comment on the leak while he was in Bahrain for the Grand Prix.
Although it is not yet clear whether the messages are authentic, and whether they serve as evidence against him, they showed a series of boring and sexually suggestive conversations.
Horner was then joined in Bahrain on Saturday by Spice Girl wife Geri Halliwell, 51, who clearly showed her support for her husband.
The pair were seen holding hands, hugging tightly and even kissing in the F1 paddock.
But sources said furious Geri “read him the riot act” before putting on a brave face for the cameras – much to her husband’s “relief”.
The Sun claimed over the weekend that a mole within the Red Bull camp may have sent a dossier of texts to F1 staff.
And Jos, Michael Schumacher’s former teammate, was asked if he was also involved.
He strongly rejected the claims, saying: “It would make no sense.
“Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here?”
Jos, 51, has overseen his son’s career like a hawk after taking part in 106 races as an F1 driver himself.
Now his feud with Horner has left son Max, 26, in an awkward position and could drive a bigger wedge through the Red Bull team.
Max took to Twitter today to wish Jos a happy birthday, posting a picture of him as a boy in a model racing car with his dad crouching behind him.
And according to the Sunday Telegraph, Jos has even told friends that his son “will move on from Red Bull Racing if he has to” following the recent drama.
Horner has always denied allegations of misconduct and was cleared by Red Bull to continue in his role on Wednesday after an employee’s appeal was dismissed.
Who is Jos Verstappen?
A FORMER F1 driver himself, Jos has won two podiums in 106 races, but is more recently known as the father of world champion Max Verstappen.
Josa can often be seen behind the scenes at Red Bull during race weekends and is proud to publicly support his son.
However, he has been the subject of close scrutiny in the past.
After a 1998 incident at a go-kart track in which another man suffered a fractured skull, he avoided a suspended prison sentence after reaching an out-of-court settlement with the victim.
Ten years later he appeared in court, accused of assaulting his wife Sophie Kumpen.
He was found not guilty of the attack, but was found guilty of threatening Kumpen in text messages and violating a previously issued restraining order.
He was fined and sentenced to three months of suspended imprisonment.
And in January 2012, he was arrested after allegations he hit his ex-girlfriend with his car, but was released two weeks later after the charge was dropped.
He has watched his son’s career like a hawk and now, with himself and Horner at loggerheads, it leaves Max Verstappen in an awkward position.
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Horner could be seen waving his arms and gesticulating as he spoke intently to JosCredit: SKY SPORTS
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Horner and Verstappen look stressed as they prepare for this weekend’s race Credit: Getty
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Geri and her husband share an intimate moment before the first race of the season
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Horner points at Jos during their exchange after the season opener Credit: SKY SPORTS
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Horner with F1 champion Max Verstappen after winning the season opener in Bahrain
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The troubled couple stood next to key Red Bull shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya and his wife as they watched from the paddock
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Source: HIS Education