Jos Verstappen, father of Formula One triple world champion Max, claimed Red Bull would ‘explode’ if Christian Horner remains as team principal.

He made the incendiary comments as the most toxic weekend in Formula One history concluded with Verstappen Jnr taking a crushing victory at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

‘There is tension here while he remains in position,’ Verstappen Snr told Mail Sport. 

‘The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.’

The eyes of the wider world have been focused on the storm around Horner, 50-year-old husband of former Spice Girl Geri, after sexually suggestive text messages he allegedly sent to a female employee came to public attention in a leaked email on Thursday.

Jos Verstappen (right) claims Red Bull will ‘explode’ if Christian Horner remains at the team

Horner and his wife Geri (left) put on a public display of unity despite his texting scandal

That was 24 hours after an investigation by Red Bull’s parent company in Stuttgart had cleared Horner of ‘coercive behaviour’ towards the woman colleague. 

Mail Sport can reveal that Jos, a former team-mate of Michael Schumacher, had a blazing row in Horner’s paddock office after qualifying on Friday night.

Verstappen, 51, walked out of the fiery meeting before returning to the room and reluctantly shaking hands.

According to his affiliates, Horner believes Verstappen Snr has orchestrated a campaign to unseat him for the past few weeks, the implication being that the Dutchman even had a hand in the email leak.

Verstappen denies the claims, saying: ‘That wouldn’t make sense. Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here?’ 

Verstappen Snr believes Red Bull are in danger of being ‘torn apart’ by the off-track drama

Horner and his partner shared a kiss in Bahrain after the couple sat down for some lunch

Horner has refused to comment on potential motives for those responsible for leaking texts

Horner was given a very public show of support by Geri, 51, in the paddock. 

She walked with him, hand-in-hand and wreathed in smiles, from the main entrance to the hospitality area before sitting down for some lunch.

After victory, Horner said: ‘I am not going to comment on the motives whatever person may have for doing this.’

Asked if he would be in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for next weekend’s race and the whole season, he said: ‘Absolutely. I’ve always been confident I’ll be here.’