Max Verstappen says Formula 1 is less stressful without Christian Horner and describes the paddock atmosphere as improved.

Max Verstappen described the Formula 1 paddock as less stressful following Christian Horner's exit from Red Bull, explaining that constant tension between people creates an unpleasant atmosphere. The four-time world champion said he prefers when people get along rather than maintaining spicy relationships for entertainment value.

Verstappen acknowledged Horner showed he did a good job during his tenure but emphasized that any potential return is not his concern or problem. He noted that while people spread rumors about Horner's future, he doesn't know how much speculation is true and focuses on his own responsibilities.

The Red Bull driver recently signed a four-year contract extension after speaking with other teams including McLaren. When asked about Ferrari, Verstappen said he is performance-driven rather than nostalgic, questioning what the point would be if it meant driving in fifth or sixth place consistently.

Verstappen expects the challenge of rebuilding Red Bull to drive him through his extended contract period. However, he doesn't anticipate staying in Formula 1 until age 46 like Fernando Alonso, noting that dedicating more than half his life to the sport would probably be too much.