Formula One F1 - Bahrain Grand Prix - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - March 2, 2024 Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo
(Reuters) - Triple world champion Max Verstappen defended his outspoken father Jos on Wednesday but said it would take something "crazy" for him to leave Red Bull at the end of the season.
Jos, 52, has taken a stance against Red Bull boss Christian Horner and said at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix last week that the dominant team risked being torn apart if the Briton stayed in charge.
The comments came after an investigation by an independent barrister cleared Horner of allegations of misconduct made by a female employee.
Verstappen senior's comments triggered fears that Verstappen, the star driver, could look elsewhere for the 2025 season.
Former champions Mercedes have a vacancy with seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton signing for Ferrari in 2025, a move that took many by surprise.
"I'm just focusing on the driving bit and I think that is also the most important for the team right now," Verstappen, 26, told reporters in Jeddah ahead of Saturday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when asked if he agreed with his father.
"That's also why we came here and that's our main target and what we want to focus on you know, to not have this stuff going on race after race because that is not good for the team."
Asked if he could see any circumstances where he might not be racing for Red Bull next year, the Dutch driver replied: "Things must go really crazy, I guess, but that's not the target for everyone."
Red Bull won 21 of 22 races last season with the most dominant car in the sport's history.
Verstappen, who won 19 of them, started the latest campaign with a 'grand slam' win of pole position, fastest lap and every lap led.
Verstappen said his father, a former F1 racer who was once a team mate of seven times world champion Michael Schumacher, was not a liar and he had not asked him whether he regretted making the explosive comments.
"My dad, from how I know him in go-karting, is very outspoken and he is not a liar, that is for sure," he added. "My dad and I are very close. We call every day."
Verstappen senior is not scheduled to be in Saudi Arabia this weekend.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Toby Davis)
