Jos Verstappen launches fresh attack on Christian Horner and backs suspended Red Bull employee - 'Too late'

Jos Verstappen has launched a fresh attack on Christian Horner while throwing his support behind the suspended Red Bull employee.

Horner was recently cleared of misconduct following allegations made by a female member of staff.

The 50-year-old always denied the allegations against him and, on Thursday, Red Bull suspended the woman who made the accusations on full pay.

But Jos, father of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, has now thrown his support behind the female member of staff in a fresh interview.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: "I sympathise with the woman, with all that she went through, but we will see what happens."

Jos will miss the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on Saturday, with the Dutchman opting to attend a rally in Belgium instead.

The female Red Bull employee who accused Horner of misconduct was suspended by the F1 side due to the findings of the team's investigation.

Horner has said he wants to 'draw a line' under the whole situation and focus on racing.

Yet Jos has claimed it's 'too late' for that to happen.

"I think it's a bit too late for that now," he added.

"If that's what he wants, fine, but I don't think it will be possible.

"I don't want to talk too much more as it will create problems.

"But the most important thing for me is that Max is happy, that's what counts for me, I just want him to be happy.

"Red Bull seem to know what they are doing with her [the female employee], we will see. But I think it is for her to come out and see what happens.

"I'm not fully up to speed with what is happening with her.

"But all these things that are going on are having an influence on Max.

"He was third in the first practice, and all we hear about is Horner and what happened with his situation.

"In the press conference Horner gave the other day it was all about him and his problems when we should be talking about Max, the car, his performance and the race.

"I've already said I think it is causing problems if he stays."

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While Jos has already said he thinks Horner should leave Red Bull, he can't see that happening.

He instead believes the Briton will remain team principal until the end of the season, at least.

But Jos continues to state that would be a terrible scenario for his son, too.

"I think it's too late for Christian to say 'leave me alone' but he has the support of the Thai owner so I think he will stay for the rest of the season," he stated.

"I said it would bad if he stayed, it really isn't good for the team, this whole situation."

Jos and Horner were caught on camera having an animated discussion during last weekend's race in Bahrain.

But the 52-year-old has now shrugged off that incident.

"That was earlier, on Friday, before the race," he said.

"He was saying to me 'Do you trust me? I will do everything for your son' and we were talking with our hands, we didn't have a fight.

"But on Friday we did have an argument in the office, and I walked out but, in the trailer, he came up to me and said 'Congratulations, good race'."