Martin Brundle Reveals Text Message From Christian Horner After Verstappen Wins Italian GP

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen delivered an incredible performance at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix in Monza, securing his 66th career win and ending the team’s winless streak since Imola earlier this season. 

Verstappen’s triumph also marked Lauren Mekies’ first win since taking over as Red Bull Racing team principal following the shocking dismissal of long-time boss Christian Horner in July. 

Fans and bettors were quick to celebrate Red Bull’s return to form. Formula 1 betting remains one of the most dynamic betting markets in motorsport, with fans turning to reputable online betting sites to bet on outcomes like race winners, podium finishers, and fastest laps (source: https://casinobeats.com/betting-sites/). Verstappen’s win and McLaren’s ongoing dominance are resulting in a season with plenty of intrigue for bettors and fans of the sport.

The fallout from Horner’s surprise departure continues to be felt through the paddock, but his name made a surprise appearance during the Sky Sports F1 broadcast. Martin Brundle, correspondent for Sky Sports and F1 commentator, revealed that Horner had sent him a text during the race, praising the team’s turnaround after their disastrous performance at Monza in 2024.

“A message from Christina Horner here, actually,” Brundle said live on air. “‘This was our worst race last year. We had the wrong downforce level,’ and how hard the team have worked on that package and done a great job. Of course, they’ve turned it around.”

Horner’s comment referred to last year’s Italian GP, where Verstappen finished sixth after Red Bull struggled with an incorrect rear wing setup, leaving them almost 38 seconds behind race winner Charles Leclerc of Ferrari. In contrast, this year Verstappen not only started on pole, but also quickly recovered after briefly losing the position to McLaren’s Lando Norris in the opening lap. 

Once back in front, Verstappen never looked back and stretched out a dominant advantage to cross the finish line over 19 seconds clear of Norris in second place. 

The win was an important statement for Red Bull, who had been under pressure following McLaren’s dominant run of form since June. It showed that Verstappen had confidence in his RB21 setup for the track, despite doubts within the team. 

Talking after the race, Verstappen explained: “It was a great day for us. Lap 1 was a bit unlucky, but after that, we were flying. The car was really enjoyable. I could manage the pace quite well throughout that first stint, and we pitted at the right time. With the hard tyres at the end, you can push a bit more; it’s more resilient. Fantastic execution by everyone, by the whole team. The whole weekend, we were on it. It’s super enjoyable to win here.”

Horner’s text to Brundle shows that he remains connected to the sport. He led the team since 2005, before his sudden removal. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff and others in the paddock have already mentioned that Horner’s absence is being felt, yet his quiet acknowledgement of his former team’s performance indicates that he is still around.

With the upcoming Azerbaijan GP later this month, Red Bull will be looking to hold on to their redemption and show Verstappen’s win wasn’t an isolated incident.

Written by

Jack Renn

Jack Renn is an editor at F1 Chronicle and a veteran motorsport journalist with 25 years of experience covering Formula 1 and international motorsport. A member of the Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive (AIPS), the global body representing accredited sports journalists, Jack has spent his career reporting from paddocks and press rooms across the F1 calendar. His work spans race analysis, technical insight, and in-depth features, giving readers authoritative coverage grounded in decades of firsthand experience at the highest level of the sport.

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