Horner: "Verstappen and his management team have always been very straightforward"

"Max and his management team have always been very straightforward and easy to deal with", Horner starts talking to GP Racing. According to the top man, that brought a lot of advantages. "The upside to it was just getting that speculation out of the way early, and going into the year with everybody knowing this is a longer-term project than just the 12-month scenario – particularly [with] the big rule change coming in 2021 as well."

Negotiations with Verstappen quickly concluded

The trust is mutual and that forms a good basis for continuing to work together in the coming years, according to Horner in the motorsport magazine. "That extension was very, very straightforward. It’s one of the most straightforward [negotiations] I’ve ever had – in a relatively short time frame", reveals the 46-year-old Briton.

Within the Red Bull team it was a complete surprise for everyone. "It took everybody by surprise, but it was an early good, New Year surprise and bonus for everybody", Horner continues his story. " It just puts more injection [of momentum] into it – that Max believes in us, we believe in ourselves, that we can really take this fight, hopefully, to Mercedes.” 

Horner's glad he's not stuck with the Hamilton situation

Verstappen is fixed until 2023 at the Austrian race stables and Charles Leclerc signed for Ferrari until 2024. With that the sting is taken out of the silly season. The big question is what Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton will do. "His options are now somewhat limited. Does that put him in a stronger position with Mercedes or Mercedes in a strong position? Who knows? It’s none of our business. [I’m just] glad that we’re not in that scenario", said a happy Horner.