Fiery Red Bull fight days before bombshell Christian Horner sacking

Christian Horner was already on thin ice, but one heated moment at the British Grand Prix ultimately sealed his fate with Red Bull.

Christian Horner was involved in a “heated exchange” with Jos Verstappen at last weekend’s British Grand Prix before he was sacked, according to sensational claims.

Horner, 51, was axed as team principal of Red Bull Racing’s Formula One team after 20 years in the role.

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Cracks had been starting to appear in the team’s foundations since the start of last season as a behind the scenes power struggle erupted, The Sun reports.

Horner and Jos Verstappen - former F1 racer and father of star driver Max Verstappen - have butted heads multiple times.

Last season, at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, the pair were seen arguing in the paddock despite the team going on to take victory.

There has been little indication of them reconciling, with 53-year-old Verstappen Sr saying he was “completely finished” with Horner in August.

And the tension apparently spilt over into another heated exchange at Silverstone at the weekend.

Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen reportedly had another heated exchanged during the British GP. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Ralf Schumacher has claimed he was witness to a Horner and Verstappen “argument” during the weekend with the team’s press officer also involved.

“There was another argument or a heated exchange, at least visually and verbally between Jos Verstappen, Christian Horner and the press officer,” he said on the Boxengasse-podcast.

“You could see that Jos was anything but happy with the situation.”

SunSport has attempted to contact Red Bull and Christian Horner for comment.

“But I understand it too. For me, Christian Horner is also a bit of a difficult person,” Schumacher added.

“I have to say that. He just failed to keep the team together well, which is not always easy, of course.

“But I also think his behaviour now, I can only refer to myself, but he can’t really deal with criticism.”

Schumacher also said Horner refuses to speak to the German branch of Sky Sports.

“We are, or I am, now, on a so-called black list, so he no longer talks to us or with me and such,” he said.

“It’s actually a joke, because a man who has won so much should actually be able to discuss it in front of the camera,”

The decision to sack Horner comes a year and a half after the ‘sexting scandal’ that engulfed him over texts he apparently sent to a female employee. He was cleared of any wrongdoing and vehemently denied the claims.

Despite delivering six constructors championships and eight world drivers championships, four of which to Verstappen, the relationship seems over. Photo: AP Photo/Denes Erdos.

Jos is reportedly a friend of the female complainant and repeatedly called for Horner’s dismissal after the scandal.

Despite keeping his job in the aftermath of the chaos, Red Bull have slumped down both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings, with Verstappen reportedly eyeing a move to rivals Mercedes.

The Dutch driver, 27, struck gold with pole position on Saturday before he suffered a disastrous spin during a safety car restart in Sunday’s chaotic race.

Laurent Mekies has been appointed as the new CEO of Red Bull Racing, stepping up from the Racing Bulls team, following Horner’s departure.

The next F1 race will commence on July 27 with the Belgian Grand Prix.

Verstappen sits third in the drivers’ championship, scoring 165 of Red Bull’s total tally of 172, which sees them currently in fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission.