Max Verstappen has claimed the Formula One paddock is less stressful without Christian Horner as his former Red Bull boss targets a return to the sport.
Horner left Red Bull last year, where he guided Verstappen to all four of his drivers' championships. The 52 year old recently declared that he had unfinished business and spoke of his dream to lead Ferrari.
Despite the Tifosi since declaring confidence in Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, Horner's potential return remains one of the hottest topics on the grid.
Paddock tension and team relationships
Horner's fierce sparring with Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff and McLaren chief executive Zak Brown helped shape Formula One for much of the past decade. The intense paddock atmosphere was once compared to a Piranha Club because of its ferocity.
However, Verstappen, who secured his first victory of the season in Malaysia last weekend, insisted that a potential Horner comeback is not required to reignite competitive fire among teams.
Verstappen said: "To be honest, I like to see that people get on. It is not nice when you constantly have tension between people. Of course, from the outside, people like it, but honestly between the teams, it is better when you have just a friendly relationship."
"It is not as spicy, but I obviously quite like how things are going at the moment, with everyone's behaviour, let's put it like that," Verstappen added. "It is less stressful. We are all leading a stressful life and, when you can take a bit of stress out of it at times, it is good."
Background and future prospects
Formula One is the top tier of global single seater auto racing, where teams compete in Grand Prix events around the world. Red Bull Racing, Scuderia Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren represent four of the sport's primary constructors, with the Tifosi representing Ferrari's passionate Italian fanbase.
Verstappen acknowledged that Horner did a good job during his tenure at Red Bull Racing. However, Verstappen emphasized that rumours regarding his former team principal returning to the grid are beyond his concern.
Verstappen said: "He has shown he did a good job. Of course, people spread a lot of rumours, and I don't know how much of that is true. I don't want to sound rude, but it is also not my problem or concern. He wants to come back, and if there is a good opportunity, I am sure he will do it, but I don't know where that is going to be."
