Ralf Schumacher disputes Horner’s account of Verstappen recruitment

The former Red Bull team principal recalled Marko describing Jos Verstappen as a “nightmare” and initially dismissing the need to sign his son. RacingNews365 English reported Horner’s account on 26 September 2026, citing The Times in coverage ahead of his forthcoming book, *Drive*.

The recollection concerns a recruitment decision that brought Red Bull its future four-time world champion. Verstappen joined the junior programme in 2014, made his Formula 1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2015 and moved to Red Bull Racing in 2016, winning his first Grand Prix for the team.

RacingNews365 English emphasises the contrast between the initial reluctance described by Horner and Verstappen’s subsequent four titles. GPblog, which reported the same account on 25 September, adds another significant part of the relationship: Marko later became one of Verstappen’s principal confidants within Red Bull and repeatedly praised his performances.

Both publications therefore describe the same alleged early resistance, but GPblog’s account also highlights how close Marko and Verstappen subsequently became. The concern Horner attributes to Marko was about Jos, rather than Max himself.

Horner also credited Marko with his own first opportunity at Red Bull, saying the Austrian had recommended him to the team’s founder, Dietrich Mateschitz.

Update

Schumacher, a former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sport pundit, rejected Horner’s account in comments from the *Backstage Boxengasse* podcast reported on 29 September. Horner had said Marko initially resisted bringing Max Verstappen into Red Bull because of concerns about Max’s father, Jos. RacingNews365 relayed Horner’s account from a report in *The Times* about his forthcoming book.

Bild reports Schumacher as saying Marko had approached Max when he was 11 and that they made contact again during Max’s Formula 3 career. Schumacher also said Horner had played little part in the relationship that developed. Bild and RacingNews365 differ on who, in Schumacher’s telling, thought that first approach came too soon.

An earlier account published by Formula1.com quoted Marko saying serious talks began during Verstappen’s 2014 Formula 3 season. In the same article, Horner recalled Marko proposing a Toro Rosso seat for Verstappen the following year — a later stage than the initial reluctance Horner has described.