Formula 1 was rocked Wednesday as Red Bull Racing confirmed the departure of long-time team principal Christian Horner, ending his two-decade leadership run that transformed the outfit into one of the most dominant forces in motorsport.
Horner, 51, had led Red Bull Racing since its inception in 2005, overseeing eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ titles. The team has amassed all of its 124 Grand Prix victories under his stewardship, with drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen becoming world champions on his watch. But recent internal tensions, political struggles, and a challenging 2025 campaign proved to be too much to overcome.
The decision to remove Horner came after weeks of speculation and multiple high-level meetings at the Austrian and British Grands Prix. According to sources close to the situation, at least one of those meetings involved Max Verstappen and Red Bull GmbH CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, who has reportedly long advocated for a leadership shake-up within the racing program.
While Horner had previously appeared untouchable thanks to backing from Red Bull majority shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya, insiders say Yoovidhya’s stance shifted recently—allowing the decision to go through. A senior source told ESPN, “No decision like this could have been made without Chalerm’s sign-off. That changed this week.”
The pressure on Horner had been building for months amid disappointing on-track performance and deepening divisions behind the scenes. Star driver Max Verstappen has voiced repeated frustrations over the RB21’s performance this year, while rumors swirled around potential exit clauses in his contract. Mercedes is said to be monitoring the situation closely, with an eye on luring Verstappen away should the team’s struggles persist.
Further complicating matters was Horner’s deteriorating relationship with Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, who is closely aligned with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. That feud, coupled with Adrian Newey’s exit to Aston Martin earlier this year, highlighted the internal fractures plaguing Red Bull Racing.
Last year, Horner also weathered an internal sexual misconduct investigation stemming from allegations made by a former Red Bull Racing employee. Though he retained his role at the time, the fallout deepened political rifts within the team following the 2022 death of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz.
Red Bull has confirmed that former Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies has been promoted to CEO of Red Bull Racing, while Alan Permane has stepped in as team principal of the junior team. Permane had previously served as Racing Bulls’ director.
While Red Bull has not yet named a direct replacement for Horner as team principal, the restructuring signals a significant change in direction. The team will now look to stabilize its F1 operations during a season that has seen their dominance waver for the first time in years.
The shock dismissal leaves key questions for Red Bull moving forward. Chief among them: Will Max Verstappen stay? With his future tied not just to performance but to the team environment, Red Bull’s leadership overhaul could either re-engage the three-time world champion—or push him closer to the exit.
For Horner, whose name had even been floated in rumors linking him to Ferrari, the sacking ends one of the most successful managerial runs in Formula 1 history. But in the ultra-political world of F1, nothing is permanent—and Red Bull’s next chapter begins now.
