F1 Today | Unpacking the Horner and Verstappen unrest

Although Friday marked the first day of track action at the Austrian Grand Prix, there have been a lot of arguments that have filled the paddock. Max Verstappen may have grabbed the sprint race pole by +0.093 second from Lando Norris around the Red Bull Ring, but it was his father and team boss, Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner, who caused the biggest headlines. Comments from Toto Wolff regarding Verstappen Jr. and the driver market were also

First off with the news on track, and it was Verstappen again who was able to pip Norris to the sprint race pole by +0.093 seconds at the front of the grid. After Verstappen beat out Norris to victory in Canada and Spain, it was yet another 'victory' for the Dutchman who is showing his dominance in this 2024 season.

Norris' teammate Oscar Piastri took P3 in an improved showing from the Australian, as George Russell finished the best of the Mercedes in P4, with Carlos Sainz rounding off the top five. Lewis Hamilton could only take P6, but it was yet another disappointing showing from Sergio Perez, only managing to take seventh at his team's home race. Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly took P8 and P9, respectively, for Alpine, with Charles Leclerc finishing in P10 after a mechanical failure meant he could not set a lap.

However, the biggest story of the day came off the track, and it involved a pair familiar with disagreeing and arguing with each other: Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner.

Verstappen Sr. was meant to be driving the RB8 around the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg this weekend for the Legends Parade, but speaking to De Telegraaf, the Dutchman said "I have heard from several sources that Christian Horner has done everything he can to not let me drive... I think: Say it to my face." Apparently, the Red Bull team boss did not want Jos to be filmed driving a Red Bull car.

Austria Grand Prix organisers then could not confirm whether Jos Verstappen would be driving on Sunday and hoped he would. Horner denied this claim outright, not even entertaining the question during Friday's constructors' press conference.

However, it wasn't enough for Verstappen Sr., who came out and told GPblog, "I'm like, 'I'm not doing it. Who cares?'... if he wants to play that game, he can have it." He ruled himself out of Sunday's Legend Parade. Red Bull Ring organisers found his replacement, and it will be Patrick Friesacher who will drive the RB8 instead of the Dutchman.

It wasn't the only disagreement that Horner was involved in today. He and Mercedes boss Wolff were also involved in a war of words with each other. In Friday's press conference again, Horner was asked about the potential that Verstappen would go to Mercedes, a rumour that has been spinning since before the 2024 season began.

The Red Bull team boss reacted by saying, "If Wolff wants a Verstappen, he can have Jos." Wolff laughed in response, speaking to Sky Germany and saying, "That's just stupid. He is talking nonsense."