The Belgian Grand Prix begins the second half of the F1 season, however the bigest moments so far have arguably come from the off-season.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Red Bull abruptly fired their long-term team principal Christian Horner after a 20-year stint that included eight Formula 1 drivers’ titles, six constructors’ titles, and 124 race wins.

Red Bull did not give a reason for the decision, but thanked Horner for his work and said he will “forever remain an important part of our team history”. The announcement comes more than a year after Horner was accused of misconduct toward a team employee.

So what actually happened?

The announcement follows a period of tense internal politics within Red Bull as well as a lacklustre performance on track during the 2025 season. Read more here. 

Will Max Verstappen go to Mercedes?

If you weren’t swept up in the Horner saga, it’s likely you’ve been occupied by the rumour-mill concerning Max Verstappen and a potential move to Mercedes.

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Verstappen currently sits in third place in the driver’s championship, and while the Dutchman’s talent and drive to win remains unquestionable, it’s clear that McLaren have the better car and pace.

Mercedes driver George Russell’s contract expires this year and a contract renewal has not been announced. This potentially opens the door for Verstappen to switch teams.

That speculation hit a fever pitch when news broke Verstappen and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff happened to be in the Italian island of Sardinia at the same time a few weeks ago.

So far, no announcements have been made, but a typically wry Verstappen has remained tight-lipped during press conferences.

He batted away journalists persistent questions around a Mercedes move and quipped,“There is also a possibility I don’t wake up tomorrow!” he said. “So then, there is no driving at all. Life is unpredictable.”