Thursday\u2019s fast-paced F1 news includes an update on a potential return for former Red Bull boss Christian Horner as Jos Verstappen, the father of Max Verstappen, is branded a \u201cthug.\u201d<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s charge through the day\u2019s main F1 headlines at breakneck speed\u2026<\/p>\n
Bernie Ecclestone casts doubt on Christian Horner return after Red Bull exit<\/p>\n
Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is still in \u201cshock\u201d over his sudden sacking by the team after last month\u2019s British Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
That is the claim of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who believes Horner \u201cprobably doesn\u2019t want to\u201d return to F1 unless he can find a partner to help him buy a team.<\/p>\n
Horner recently left Red Bull after more than 20 years with Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies stepping up as his replacement as chief executive and team principal.<\/p>\n
Read more:\u00a0Christian Horner \u2018shock\u2019 uncovered as Ecclestone sets one condition for F1 return<\/a><\/p>\n Jos Verstappen branded \u2018pure thug\u2019 by former Ferrari man<\/p>\n Former Ferrari man Gino Rosato has described Jos Verstappen as a \u201cpure thug\u201d \u2013 but says he raised a \u201cgentleman\u201d in the shape of son Max Verstappen.<\/p>\n Verstappen Sr\u2019s uncompromising approach to the development of his son has sometimes been criticised.<\/p>\n However, Rosato reckons Mr Verstappen unleashed \u201cthe biggest beast\u201d in F1 by being tough on a young Max.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0\u2018Pure thug\u2019 Jos Verstappen singled out for creation of \u2018biggest beast in F1\u2019 in Max Verstappen<\/a><\/p>\n Franco Colapinto under no immediate threat at Alpine<\/p>\n Franco Colapinto is facing no immediate threat to his Alpine seat ahead of the second half of the F1 2025 season, PlanetF1.com understands.<\/p>\n Colapinto has failed to score a point since replacing Jack Doohan at Alpine ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May.<\/p>\n Valtteri Bottas, the Mercedes reserve driver, has been among the names linked to his seat over recent weeks.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0Aron? Bottas? Colapinto\u2019s F1 future clarified with Alpine mission set<\/a><\/p>\n Mercedes clarify \u2018crisis meeting\u2019 claims after Belgian Grand Prix<\/p>\n Speaking to select media including PlanetF1.com, Mercedes team representative Bradley Lord has played down reports that the team held a \u2018crisis meeting\u2019 after last month\u2019s Belgian Grand Prix.<\/p>\n Mercedes endured a testing weekend at Spa, where Andrea Kimi Antonelli suffered two Q1 exits in the space of 24 hours on a sprint weekend.<\/p>\n The team reverted to a previous-spec rear suspension in Hungary, where Antonelli returned to the points and team-mate George Russell finished third.<\/p>\n