Christian Horner sacked at Red Bull. What happens now?
The Christian Horner era at Red Bull Racing is over. But as the dust settles on the most seismic leadership change in recent Formula 1 history, the bigger question is: where does the team go from here?
By Cayle Reid
FOR TWO DECADES, Christian Horner has been the lightning rod at the heart of Red Bull Racing. He transformed the team from perennial midfielders to serial world champions. But now, as further proof that no one’s job is ever safe in Formula 1, Horner has been sent packing by Red Bull.
Red Bull confirmed the decision late last night via a curt statement that thanked Horner for his “exceptional work over the last 20 years,” before quickly pivoting to the future.
No direct reason for Horner’s dismissal was given in the statement.
Why was Christian Horner sacked?
While Horner’s Red Bull exit may come as a shock, the writing has been on the wall for months. After surviving an internal investigation into allegations of misconduct (which Horner strenuously denied), the cracks in his once-iron grip on the team never quite sealed over. Since then, Red Bull has undergone an exodus of talent, with designer Adrian Newey departing to join Aston Martin and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley leaving to become Sauber/Audi team principal.
Those changes have coincided with a slip in performance on the track. Red Bull no longer looks like the dominant force they have been for the last five seasons. Max Verstappen remains reliable, but the driver’s championship looks out of reach even for him. Meanwhile, the second Red Bull car – whether it’s being driven by Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda – has sat toward the back of the pack throughout this season.
We can read between the lines. Red Bull is preparing to head in a new direction, with changes from top to bottom, starting at the top.
Who will take Christian Horner’s place at Red Bull?
Red Bull has promoted Laurent Mekies, the current team principal of Red Bull sister team RB, to take Horner’s place as CEO. Mekies got his start in F1 as chief engineer for Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2005, before moving to Ferrari and working his way up the ranks to eventually become racing director. Now he gets one of the most coveted positions in the sport.
What does Christian Horner’s exit mean for Max Verstappen?
Verstappen has shared an image of himself embracing Horner on Instagram. He captioned the post: “From my first race win, to four world championships, we have shared incredible successes. Winning memorable races and breaking countless records. Thank you for everything, Christian!”
In recent weeks, Verstappen has been linked to a shock move to Mercedes. It is unknown whether those rumours are due to Verstappen’s displeasure at changes at Red Bull. Expect more news to follow.
Will this affect Red Bull’s performance on track?
In the short term, probably not. Red Bull’s car and engineering structure remain world-class. But long-term, leadership instability could impact driver retention, staff morale and development direction.
What’s next for Christian Horner?
Unknown. Horner could take time away from the sport, pivot into media or consultancy, or plot a return with another team in the future. Don’t rule out an F1 comeback down the line.
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