Helmut Marko has broken his silence over Red Bull’s decision to sack Christian Horner, revealing it was the consequence of “various factors”. Horner was axed by Red Bull in a bombshell announcement two weeks ago as Red Bull GmbH higher-ups called time on his 20-year tenure with the Formula 1 team.

Heading into the Belgian GP, Red Bull is 288 points behind Constructors' Championship leader McLaren, and Verstappen's dreams of scoring a fifth successive Drivers' Championship crown are hanging by a thread. With a critical regulation change incoming for the 2026 season, Red Bull's status as an F1 powerhouse is under significant threat.

Max Verstappen says Christian Horner’s shock dismissal as Red Bull team principal has “made no difference” to his decision over whether to stay at the team, adding “only time will tell” if it is the right move on the part of the team’s shareholders.