Max Verstappen's family positions itself against Christian Horner in the internal investigation by Red Bull: Reports

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen's family's position regarding Christian Horner has reportedly shifted in recent years, with the ongoing internal investigation further widening the rift.

The Dutch driver brought glory back to the Austrian team in the 2021 season and has since been the dominant force in the sport that has led the team on the track. But behind the scenes, there have reportedly been internal tensions and conflicts - between team principal Christian Horner and team advisor Helmut Marko, and between Horner and Max's father Jos Verstappen.

As per Motorsport-Total, the damaged relationship between Horner and Verstappen Sr. could be a reason behind the former F1 driver's limited presence in the sport over the past few years.

The internal investigation for Horner's alleged 'inappropriate behavior' towards a member of staff has seemingly further widened the gap between the two parties, with Max Verstappen's family positioning themselves against the Brit.

That said, neither Christian Horner nor Jos Verstappen has made any public remarks on the alleged feud reported by the aforementioned source yet. It remains to be seen if the results of the internal investigations will change the dynamic between the parties involved.

Red Bull launches internal investigation against Christian Horner

The news of Christian Horner's investigation shocked the world of F1 earlier in the week. The energy drink brand confirmed the allegations and claimed that they had already begun conducting an internal investigation.

In their statement, Red Bull said:

“After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation,” Red Bull said in a statement on Monday. “This process, which is already underway, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister.

"The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”

Horner, however, has completely denied the allegations and his role in the matter. On Friday, February 9, the team boss will be questioned by an external investigator about the event.

If Red Bull have to let their current team principal go after the investigation, team manager and the current sports director Jonathan Wheatley would be the potential replacement.

It is unclear if Christian Horner will be front and center when the team launches its 2024 challenger on February 15 next week. It is possible that for the first time since its inception in 2005, the team will go ahead on a global stage without the Brit.