Max Verstappen breaks silence after Red Bull boss dies aged 78

Max Verstappen makes subtle dig at Lewis Hamilton in April

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Max Verstappen paid tribute to Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz, who sadly passed away aged 78, after United States Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday. Verstappen will start second on the grid on Sunday due to Charles Leclerc’s penalty after finishing behind Carlos Sainz and his Ferrari teammate at the Circuit of the Americas.

Mateschitz’s death was confirmed less than one before qualifying started in Austin, Texas, with Red Bull on the brink of sealing their first Constructors’ Championship since 2013. Verstappen has already secured back-to-back world titles, making it official with his dominant Japanese Grand Prix victory.

However, the Dutchman couldn’t better Sainz and Leclerc in qualifying and will start Sunday’s race behind the former on the grid. In the aftermath, Verstappen broke his silence on the loss of Mateschitz and told Sky Sports that he’d ‘give him everything’ to achieve a record-levelling win this weekend.

He said: “Yeah, I mean, it’s been hard news, I think, for everyone. I think what he has meant for Red Bull and the sport, what he has done for me and my life so far… it’s really tough. It’s a very tough day, and we tried to give everything in qualifying today. Of course, we missed out today, but we’re going to try and give him everything tomorrow.”

JUST IN: Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz dies aged 78 after Verstappen win

Mateschitz co-founded Red Bull in the 1980s, and they made the groundbreaking move to create their own F1 team in 2005. Red Bull dominated the grid five years later, winning four consecutive Constructors’ Championship titles from 2010 to 2013 with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.

Following a prolonged slumber, Red Bull rose again in 2021 as Verstappen dethroned Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ standings. And despite Mercedes picking up the constructors’ crown for an eighth successive season, Red Bull will hope to be named the new champions this weekend.

In reaction to the sad news of Mateschitz’s passing just before qualifying commenced, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner paid tribute to the Austrian. “Look, it’s very, very sad. What a great man. He’s few of a kind, what he achieved and what he’s done for so many people around the world across different sports. He is second to none,” an emotional Horner explained.

“So many of us have to be so grateful to him for the opportunities that he’s provided, the vision he had, the strength of character, and never being afraid to chase your dreams. That’s what he did here in Formula One, proving that you can make a difference. We are just incredibly grateful for him.”

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