Christian Horner: Red Bull F1 team principal sacked after 20 years in charge of Milton Keynes outfit

Christian Horner has been sacked by Red Bull with immediate effect after 20 years as team principal of the Formula 1 team.

Red Bull told Horner of the shock decision on Tuesday evening before the 51-year-old addressed the team on Wednesday morning at their UK base in Milton Keynes.

Sky Sports News understands two senior management figures with close connection to Horner have also left Red Bull.

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Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle said Horner had told him "no reason was given to him" for his release. Red Bull's statement did not give a reason.

Laurent Mekies has been appointed as CEO of Red Bull Racing, stepping up from the Racing Bulls team where Alan Permane will now take charge.

"We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years," said Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff.

"With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula 1.

"Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history."

Horner has overseen two periods of dominance by Red Bull in Formula 1, with Sebastian Vettel and the team winning four consecutive drivers' and constructors' championships from 2010-2013 and Max Verstappen winning the last four drivers' championships from 2021-2024. Red Bull were also constructors' champions in 2022 and 2023.

Horner has faced a turbulent last 18 months on and off the track.

Allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against him in February 2024 by a female colleague were dismissed following an appeal last summer. Horner denied the accusations throughout.

McLaren have usurped Red Bull as the dominant team in F1 while several high-profile figures have left the Milton Keynes outfit over the past 18 months, including legendary designer Adrian Newey to Aston Martin and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley to Sauber.

Horner's last race in charge was Sunday's British GP at Silverstone, where Verstappen started on pole position but finished fifth after a spin in the wet.

Four-time champion Verstappen is 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri at the halfway point of the season.

Red Bull are currently fourth in the constructors' standings, 288 points behind leaders McLaren, with Ferrari and Mercedes also ahead of them in the standings.

Verstappen has scored 165 of Red Bull's 172 points this season. Rookie Liam Lawson was dropped as the Dutchman's team-mate after just two races while Yuki Tsunoda has also struggled in the second Red Bull car and been the last driver to finish in the last two races.

Brundle: Things were not particularly rosy at Red Bull

Analysis from Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle...

"It is not completely out of the blue, given the problems in the team. I'm quite sad about it. I consider Christian a friend and he's done an incredible job for 20 years.

"He's won an awful lot of races and world championships for drivers and the team. He took it from what was the Stewart team and Jaguar struggling, into a massive campus in Milton Keynes and [had] an awful lot of success and a huge trophy cabinet.

"It's not too difficult to feel in the F1 paddock and to observe and hear that things were not particularly rosy."

"[The allegations and investigation] are probably part of it but I believe it's performance-related as well. It perhaps makes it more likely that the Verstappens will stay there - I think that became quite personal.

"There are a number of aspects but particularly that the car is struggling, although they have won races brilliantly this year.

"Christian has told me 'no reason was given to him' as to why he's been released. Nothing is forever. Things move on.

"Red Bull have already put in place significant changes with Laurent Mekies coming over from Racing Bulls - their sister team - and Alan Permane will take over the reins there, so they have quickly put into place solutions."

'A loss of support and strains in the team'

Analysis from Sky Sports News' Craig Slater...

"In terms of why Horner and Red Bull have parted ways, we have to look at the fault lines which have been at that team for some time now.

"Part of that is the divided ownership of the team. Forty-nine per cent of the Red Bull company is owned by the Mateschitz family, Mark Mateschitz, the son of Dietrich Mateschitz. That Austrian-owned section had largely been in control of the various sporting projects, particularly the F1 team.

"Fifty-one per cent was Thai owned, Chalerm Yoovidhya who had previously been an ally of Christian Horner's and had supported him while those investigations into some issues at the company involving Christian Horner that had been ongoing for the last couple of years, the female member of staff making allegations against Christian Horner which two internal investigations cleared him of.

"Chalerm Yoovidhya stood by Christian Horner during this time. My understanding is that support eventually has gone away.

"The other aspect to all of this has been the uneasy relationship between Horner and the Verstappens, particularly Jos Verstappen, Max Verstappen's father.

"In the last year or so you've had a whole number of high-profile people leave the team. Jonathan Wheatley, Adrian Newey, the top designer, Rob Marshall, who's been very successful at McLaren and other members of staff as well.

"Red Bull have been trying to build an engine for 2026 but I think the perceived strains within the team and the ebbing away of success on track and the fact that maybe the image of the team, and image is a big thing for Red Bull remember they are selling a drink... They've seemed an unhappy team, that's the only way to put it, in the last couple of years.

"It's still a big surprise because this was a team still winning races, winning races this year and Christian Horner has been absolutely instrumental to that team becoming what it is today. He's built it up from a very small operation.

"I think this is the ultimate end of the power struggle which has been apparent in that team in the last couple of years and ultimately it's a power struggle which Christian Horner has lost."

Horner's 20 years in charge of Red Bull

Horner was appointed Red Bull team principal in January 2005, two months after the energy drinks company had bought the Jaguar F1 team. Aged 31, he was the youngest team principal in F1 history.

He helped recruit Newey to the team in November 2005, but it would not be until 2009 that the team secured their first victory when Vettel won a rain-soaked Chinese GP.

Red Bull would go on to win five more races that year as they finished second in the Constructors' Championship behind Brawn GP, with Vettel also finishing second in the drivers' standings, 11 points behind world champion Jenson Button.

Vettel and Red Bull would go on to dominate the sport for the next four years as the combination won the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships from 2010-2013.

New engine regulations brought that domination to an end as Mercedes became the team to beat, with Red Bull winning just three races in 2014, one in 2015 and two in 2016 - one of those being Verstappen on his debut for the team at the Spanish GP.

Despite being out of championship contention, Horner remained in charge and in 2021 Red Bull claimed a world championship again as Verstappen pipped Lewis Hamilton to the title in controversial circumstances at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

The Dutchman would retain his title the following year as Red Bull won their first constructors' title for nine years in 2022 before 2023 would see the most dominant season in F1 history as they won 21 of the 22 races.

But over the past 18 months, Horner's future has been under the microscope after allegations of inappropriate behaviour were made against him.

At last year's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, he was cleared following an internal investigation into claims of wrongdoing by a female staff member at Red Bull. Red Bull confirmed on August 8 2024 the dismissal of an appeal, which was submitted in March.

What now for Verstappen?

Verstappen's future at Red Bull has also been in the spotlight. His father, Jos, claimed in Bahrain a year ago that Red Bull would "explode" if Horner remained in his role.

Verstappen went on to win a fourth consecutive world last year, but, despite being under contract until 2028, he has been linked with a move away with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff confirming in recent weeks he has held talks with the Dutchman.

Brundle added to Sky Sports News: "It remains to be seen. Every point, podium, victory and world championship Max has, through his own genius driving, is in a Red Bull car.

"He's often stated he wants to see his career out at Red Bull if he can. They are debuting their own engine for the first time next year in what will be the biggest change in F1 history of car and power unit, at the same time. Christian has been in the driving seat of that aspect of the team completely.

"We know Max has an exit clause based on where he is in the world championship at the end of this month.

"Does this mean he's more likely to go or more likely to stay? I can only surmise it means he's more likely to stay at the team."

What next for Horner?

What Horner will do next remains to be seen. The 51-year-old attended every single Grand Prix Red Bull took part in during his 20 years in charge.

He has been linked with the Ferrari team principal job in the past, most recently in May when the German publication BILD claimed Fred Vasseur's position was under threat and that the Italian team's bosses had made "informal" contact with Horner.

Speaking at the Spanish GP following the report, Horner said it was "always very flattering to be associated with other teams" but insisted his commitment was to Red Bull.

The only team on the grid without a team principal currently is Alpine, although the French outfit recently signed Steve Nielsen as their managing director to oversee the day-to-day running of the team.

Sky Sports F1's Karun Chandhok told Sky Sports News: "Christian has been one of the most successful team principals in the history of F1, certainly the modern history. Twenty years at the helm of that team and delivering 14 world championships in total is a fantastic record.

"Christian's contribution to that operation cannot be underestimated and he undoubtedly has done a fantastic job for that Red Bull team.

"He's been in the pressure cooker of Formula 1 for 20 years at the forefront. He's never missed a race famously at Red Bull. It's been a long time so perhaps he wants a little bit of time out.

"Could he go to Ferrari? There were lots of rumours that they would try to hire him on various occasions, it didn't happen... Personally I don't think he'll go there.

"Could he end up at Alpine? In terms of his personal life, he could carry on living in the UK. Does he want to uproot his children? Does he want to uproot his entire life? Probably not.

"Alpine are still based in the Oxfordshire motorsport valley and they are looking for a team principal. They have hired Steve Nielson as a managing director, Christian's old friend Flavio Briatore is in charge as the executive consultant. That could be a future destination for Christian Horner if of course he does choose to carry on in the pressure cooker of Formula 1."

Who is Horner's replacement Laurent Mekies?

Mekies has been in charge of Red Bull's sister team Racing Bulls since the start of the 2024 season.

He began his F1 career at the Arrows team in the early 2000s before switching to Minardi. The team was bought by Red Bull in 2005 and rebranded as Toro Rosso.

He left the in 2014 to join the FIA before moving to Ferrari in 2017 to become their sporting director.

Mekies was appointed deputy team principal and racing director at Ferrari in 2021 before it was announced in July 2023 that he would leave to return to the now Racing Bulls team to replace Franz Tost as team principal.

"The last year and a half has been an absolute privilege to lead the team with Peter [Bayer, Racing Bulls CEO]," said Mekies.

"It has been an amazing adventure to contribute to the birth of Racing Bulls together with all our talented people. The spirit of the whole team is incredible, and I strongly believe that this is just the beginning.

"Alan is the perfect man to take over now and continue our path. He knows the team inside out and has always been an important pillar of our early successes."

Permane added: "I feel very honoured to take on the role as team principal and would like to thank Oliver and Helmut [Marko, Red Bull advisor] for the trust they have shown in me.

"I am looking forward to working with Peter to continue the good work that both him and Laurent have done in taking this team forward.

"This is a new challenge for me, but I know that I can count on the support of everyone within them."

F1 takes a brief break before the season resumes at the Belgian Grand Prix as the Sprint format returns, live on Sky Sports F1 on July 25-27. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime.

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