VERSTAPPEN FACES NEW CHALLENGES AT SPA WITHOUT HORNER

FOR the first time since joining Red Bull as a teenager a decade ago, Max Verstappen will compete in a Formula 1 race without his former boss Christian Horner in his corner.

- JEHRAN NAIDOO

The paddock unfolds this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, considered to be one of the sport's greatest circuits and a home race for Verstappen in Belgium.

But it’s going to include some uncomfortable feelings at first, or maybe even a few races after this week, as the World Champion acquaints himself with his new boss Laurent Mekies.

Horner was sacked earlier this month as the team struggled to reel themselves back from a slide that saw them go from the most dominant team in 2023 to bottom of the top four contenders this season.

Mekies has an almost impossible task of trying to beat McLaren and Mercedes this season, even with the four-time World Champion in his team.