Verstappen reveals ongoing weekly chats with Horner after British GP appearance

The Briton returned to the Formula 1 paddock for the first time since his dismissal a year ago, having largely stayed out of the spotlight in the months that followed aside from a handful of public appearances, including a visit to the MotoGP paddock and a few events where he gave brief interviews.

Speaking to GPBlog after the British Grand Prix, Verstappen revealed that he still speaks with Horner almost every week. He explained that although they had not had the chance to catch up properly at Silverstone because of how busy the weekend had been, the former Red Bull boss still came to see him after the race

Asked about the nature of his conversations with Horner, the four-time world champion said they simply speak the way anyone would with close friends: “Like you do with your friends, or people that you've known for a long time.”

Horner has reflected with satisfaction on the success of the Red Bull Powertrains project, saying it exceeded the expectations of many who doubted it could compete with long-established engine manufacturers.

Speaking to The Times, the former Red Bull boss recalled how the operation was built from the ground up in just a few years, crediting the support of Ford and ExxonMobil for helping turn the project into a competitive reality. He pointed to the rapid construction of the new facility, the swift development of the first engine and the recruitment of around 650 employees, including more than 200 from Mercedes HPP.

Horner acknowledged that the project faced heavy scepticism from the outset, revealing that doubts existed not only outside Red Bull but also within the company. Despite the success achieved, he admitted his biggest disappointment is that he was no longer in charge to see the team's own engine power a Formula 1 car for the first time.