Horner's exit has no impact on my future plans, says Red Bull's Verstappen ahead of Belgian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen insisted on Thursday that Christian Horner's shock departure as team boss of Red Bull will have no impact on his future plans.

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The four-time world champion, who has been linked with a move to Mercedes next year, suggested that he expects to stay with Red Bull until the conclusion of his current contract in 2028.

Speaking to reporters in the paddock ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, one of his 'home' races as he was born in Belgium and his mother is Belgian, the 27-year-old Dutchman said he was concerned only with improving the speed and performance of his car.

The rest, he said, was not of great interest to him, adding that past tensions between Horner and his father Jos Verstappen had no bearing on decisions about his future.

Asked if Horner's exit after 20 years as team boss made it more probable that he would stay at Red Bull next year, Verstappen said: “No, it doesn't. Not really.”

He said the well-publicised discord between his father and Horner was never a problem.

“People can have a difference of opinion and I expect that to happen because if everyone agrees, there is a problem.