Red Bull F1 did not explain Horner’s dismissal, but did praise him in a statement, saying the 51-year-old will “forever remain an important part of our team history.”
“We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years,” Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s chief executive for corporate initiatives and investments, stated.
“With his unwavering dedication, experience, competence, and inventive thinking, he has helped create Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and appealing Formula One teams. “Thank you for everything, Christian.”
Laurent Mekies, who works for Red Bull’s sister team Racing Bulls, will succeed Horner as team principal, the statement said.
According to Phil Duncan, F1 writer for the Press Association, Horner was at Red Bull’s plant in Milton Keynes saying his goodbyes to the staff, which he described as an “emotional moment for many.”
“My understanding is that it’s not been one specific thing that has led to Horner’s departure but rather a culmination of factors that sees his 20-year spell at Red Bull end,” Duncan told the press.
Horner had been Red Bull’s team principal when the company entered Formula One in 2005.
Red Bull F1 has enjoyed remarkable success under the Brits’ leadership, winning eight drivers’ and six constructors’ championships.
Between 2010 and 2013, the team won four consecutive drivers’ world championships with Sebastien Vettel, and Max Verstappen has emerged as the current dominant force in Formula One, winning the previous four titles.
With Horner at the head, Red Bull won 124 Grand Prix, 107 pole positions, and finished on 287 podiums. Duncan believes Horner “perhaps one of the last of those ‘big beast’ team principles”.
Duncan stated that many people are “surprised” by Horner’s firing, which came just a few days after the British Grand Prix.
“There’s been rumblings about Horner’s future and how long really he has left at Red Bull for a long time now,” he told CNN’s Wire on Tuesday. “Obviously, it surfaced in Bahrain in the first race of last season when the accusations against him by the female staff member were made public, and he was clearly exonerated at the time.”
“During that moment, he was supported by the majority Thai ownership, so it appeared that he had weathered the storm. However, there have been murmurs throughout the season regarding whether he will survive in his position.
Horner’s time with Red Bull has been a source of contention in recent years.
Red Bull F1 or Beyond: Verstappen’s Next Move
Horner’s firing comes amid speculation that Verstappen may quit Red Bull at the end of the season.
Verstappen has been linked with a move to Mercedes, despite having a Red Bull deal until 2028.
However, the Dutch driver has often declined to discuss his plans. Horner had previously maintained his belief that Verstappen would continue with Red Bull.
Shortly after Horner’s firing was announced, Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, stated that they are still expecting an explanation for Red Bull’s decision.
“We were informed in advance by the management of Red Bull that this decision had been made,” Vermeulen told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. “It is up to Red Bull to provide greater information about their motivations.
“We continue to look at the sporting side and are looking for better performance so that we can return to the top.” In that regard, nothing has changed.
Duncan told CNN Sports that Horner’s departure opens the door for Verstappen to stay with the team shortly, noting difficulties between the British team principal and the four-time F1 champion’s father, Jos, at last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
“The connection has always been problematic, both since and before then. So you’d anticipate that if Horner leaves, Max Verstappen will stay,” Duncan explained. “My feeling is that he will stay for at least another year.
“But then it returns to the car. Even if Horner has left but the car isn’t performing as well as it is now, and he’s still struggling into next year, Max Verstappen may conclude that his time at Red Bull is up and he should go elsewhere. But, for the time being, you’d expect him to stay, and you’d probably hear more about it in the next month or so, after the sport returns from its summer break.”
Red Bull F1 has struggled on the track in 2025, with Verstappen third in the drivers’ championship standings, 69 points behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, having won only two Grand Prix races.
Red Bull F1 is presently placed fourth in the 2025 constructors’ championship, 288 points behind McLaren.
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