Christian Horner ‘wasn’t invited to Jos Verstappen’s birthday’ after star driver Max’s father called for him to resign… but one key Red Bull ally DID make the guestlist at the Dubai dinner

Christian Horner was not invited to Jos Verstappen’s birthday party in Dubai on Monday night amid deteriorating relations, according to reports in Germany.

The embattled team principal is believed to be at odds with the father of Red Bull’s star driver Max after they were seen in a heated fight following Friday’s qualifying session for the weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix. past.

Mail Sport exclusively reported that Verstappen Sr. believes the champion constructor will “explode” if Horner does not abandon his position at Red Bull following the toxic WhatsApp leak scandal that has engulfed the paddock.

Horner was cleared of misconduct following an independent investigation convened by the team’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, last Wednesday, but less than 24 hours later, an anonymous leak of 79 emailed documents appeared to show Horner sending messages sexually suggestive to the employee at the The investigation circulated among key sports figures.

The 50-year-old and his Spice Girl wife Geri Halliwell put on a show of unity ahead of the first race of the season after the pop star flew to the Gulf state to watch Verstappen Jnr begin his title defense in Sakhir.

The former Formula One driver called for the resignation of his son’s team manager or risk the Red Bull project ‘exploding’

The men were seen in a heated argument after Friday’s qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

But there were no such niceties between Horner and the three-time world champion’s father after the former was excluded from the latter’s birthday dinner in the United Arab Emirates.

according to BILDAlthough Horner also stayed in Dubai before flying to Jeddah for this week’s grand prix, he was left off the guest list amid the melee in the Red Bull garage.

A key Red Bull figure present at the dinner will come as no surprise to those following the turbulent civil war within the British-based constructor.

Dr Helmut Marko was invited to join the festivities due to his close ties to the Verstappen family, and his role at Red Bull could yet define whether Verstappen Jnr stays or leaves the team where he made his name.

The 26-year-old is believed to have a release clause in his £50m-a-year contract which relates to whether Marko has any role in the builder.

Marko, a motorsports advisor at Red Bull GmbH, is not an employee of Red Bull Racing, but last season Horner was blamed for moves to leave him out of both Red Bull and sister team RB (then AlphaTauri).

Red Bull motorsports advisor invited to Dubai dinner over family ties

Horner and his Spice Girl wife Geri put on a show of unity in the paddock over the weekend.

Max Verstappen posted a touching tribute on social media in honor of his father’s birthday.

Verstappen Jnr argued for an eventual extension to Marko’s contract, which will keep the 80-year-old in his role until at least 2026.

But if Marko leaves the team, the driver could still make a shocking move on the grid.

His father was seen chatting with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff in Bahrain over the weekend, sparking speculation that Verstappen Jr. could take the seat vacated by outgoing driver Lewis Hamilton in 2025.

Horner is believed to have attempted to negotiate peace with the Verstappens on Monday, meeting his driver’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, in Dubai.

Neither Verstappen Jr. nor Father were present at the conversation, but the peace talks are said to have gone smoothly.

However, the team principal will only have to be content with one family member in the garage at this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as Jos will fly back to Europe to compete in a rally in Belgium.

Verstappen took to social media to wish his father a happy birthday on Monday, sharing photos of the couple over the years with the message “Happy birthday dad.”