Former Red Bull test driver Robert Doornbos has apologised to Max Verstappen for stoking the fire surrounding rumours taking him to Mercedes.
Verstappen committed his future to Red Bull and hit out at people for “stirring the pot” and discussing a possible exit to Mercedes and Aston Martin.
One of them was Doornbos, who has taken to Instagram to apologise to the driver.
“Congratulations to Max and Red Bull! From day one, they’ve been the best combination in F1,” he began.
“There’s been a lot of commotion around my statement regarding Max potentially moving to Mercedes. Not only have I had the privilege of driving in F1 myself, but I’ve also been an F1 analyst for over 10 years, with my own sources and an opinion that, I believe, deserves respect.
“I carry out my job with great passion, as many of you can see. And let’s be honest — you can’t always roll a dice at six and this time, that’s become clear!
“Believe me when I say that I was personally present at private conversations where the deal between Max and Mercedes was discussed in detail.
“This was not a statement I just pulled out of thin air! It’s also clear that a lot has changed internally at Red Bull in the meantime. Christian Horner out immediately, Max staying for 2026!”