Max Verstappen at Red Bull HQ after Christian Horner firing

Max Verstappen has arrived at Red Bull HQ after team principal Christian Horner was fired by the team on Wednesday.

The F1 world was stunned by Horner's firing after 20 years leading the team, with Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies being promoted to fill the leadership void.

READ MORE: Red Bull announce Christian Horner FIRED in shock F1 departure

Despite the team enduring a challenging 12 months, both on and off the track, the announcement came as as a shock to everyone involved in the sport.

It arrived just days after ensuring another disappointing weekend at the British Grand Prix for the six-time constructors' champions, as Verstappen lost more ground in the drivers' title race courtesy of a fifth-place finish at Silverstone.

The Dutchman had made a quick getaway following Sunday's race as he went home to spend time with his family, but it was confirmed he was soon back in the UK after images of his private jet's latest journey surfaced on X.

Will Horner exit impact Verstappen future?

Verstappen took to social media in the wake of Horner's exit to pay tribute to the man who played a major role in delivering his four drivers' championships.

Horner took Verstappen under his wing as a 17-year-old prospect, and helped transform him into one of the sport's all-time greats.

However, despite enjoying so much success with the team, his own future at Red Bull has also been called into question throughout this season, with the 65-time race winner reportedly eyeing up his options elsewhere.

Mercedes are believed to be the frontrunners to secure his signature should he opt to make a change, and the topic dominated much of the headlines going into last weekend's event at Silverstone.

With so much to focus on regarding his on-track struggles, Verstappen has refused to be drawn on the subject, but Horner's departure may be a deciding factor in deciding his future over the coming months.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen says former Red Bull teammate 'good choice' for Cadillac F1 project

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