Max Verstappen backs father Jos amid Christian Horner furore and gives cryptic responses to Lewis Hamilton replacement rumours

Max Verstappen stopped short of committing his future to Red Bull during a hectic media day at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, as he also launched an impassioned defence of his father Jos.

The world champion’s Red Bull team have become front page news in recent weeks, ever since they began an internal investigation into team principal Christian Horner over alleged inappropriate behaviour.

Horner was cleared by the team on the eve of the opening weekend of the season on February 28, but a day later images were sent to journalists and high-ranking Formula 1 officials reportedly from the accuser.

Horner has held onto his position, but not without further drama, particularly from Verstappen’s father, Jos.

Jos Verstappen said the team would ‘explode’ if Horner stayed in his post, and soon after stories began to emerge linking his son with a move to Mercedes to replace Lewis Hamilton.

Responding to those stories, Verstappen stopped short of ruling out a Red Bull departure.

“Things must go really crazy I guess, but that’s not the target for anyone,” he said.

“From my side I’m just focusing on the driving bit, I think that’s the most important thing for the team and that’s also why we came here and that’s our main target and what we want to focus on, to not have this stuff going on race after race because that is not good for the team.”

In a separate interview, the three time champion was again asked about a departure, and said: “The thing is nobody would have ever seen that Lewis would move to Ferrari.

“That’s not related to F1, it’s just general life. You never know what happens around you or what might influence you. You can never say 100 per cent what is going to be.

“But I also don’t think about it too much - I’m very relaxed. I’m very happy with the team. The performance is there, there is no reason to leave.”

Horner said in Bahrain that he was ‘absolutely confident’ Verstappen would be with the team next season, but his star driver wasn’t as strong in his statements when asked if he could continue to work under Horner.

“Well we are at the moment,” he replied. “I saw a lot of stories about that, which was a bit weird to read.

“But from my side, what I want and it doesn’t matter who is involved in the team or not, is to have a quiet environment where everyone is happy to work.”

Verstappen also took the opportunity to defend his father amid a civil war at Red Bull.

“I have not asked him that but my dad, from how I know him in go-karting, is very outspoken and he is not a liar, that is for sure,” he said.

“My dad and I are very close. We call every day. I don’t see myself in F1 without him by my side.”

Horner is reportedto have held face-to-face talks with Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen, amid the storm engulfing Red Bull.

Tensions are set to be eased somewhat at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix this weekend, with Jos Verstappen not due to attend owing to commitments elsewhere.

"I was with him [Jos] until yesterday," Max Verstappen said. "We speak all the time, we are a team. It's me, my dad and Raymond all together, and that will always be like that also. But I guess he clearly felt like that.

"But I think from my side, it doesn't matter being on one side or the other side, of course, as a son of my dad, it would be weird to be on a different side, but from my side I just want to focus on the performance side of things and I just want to have less talk of what we are doing as a team outside of the track than the actual performance, which at the moment, we have a great car and we are looking forward to a great year."