Christian Horner Sacked: Red Bull F1 Team Boss Out After 20 Years

Christian Horner Sacked: Red Bull F1 Team Boss Out After 20 Years

Christian Horner sacked—these three words have sent shockwaves through the Formula 1 world. After two decades at the helm, Red Bull Racing has dismissed its long-serving team principal and CEO, Christian Horner, with immediate effect. This dramatic move comes during a turbulent period for the team, both on and off the track.

Why Was Christian Horner Sacked?

Red Bull Racing confirmed the news on July 9, 2025, ending Horner’s 20-year tenure that saw the team rise from newcomers to F1 giants. The official statements thank Horner for his “exceptional work, tireless commitment, and innovative thinking,” but the decision follows a series of challenges:

• Performance Decline: Red Bull’s dominance faded over the past 18 months. The team currently sits fourth in the constructors’ championship, a significant drop from its championship-winning form.
• Loss of Key Personnel: Influential figures such as technical guru Adrian Newey and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley departed, weakening the team’s technical strength.
• Internal Tensions: Reports suggest growing divisions between Horner and key figures around star driver Max Verstappen, including Verstappen’s father Jos and advisor Helmut Marko.
• Scandal Fallout: Horner was embroiled in a high-profile personal scandal in 2024, involving allegations of inappropriate behavior. Although he was twice cleared by Red Bull’s parent company, the controversy lingered over the team

Who Replaces Christian Horner?

Red Bull has promoted Laurent Mekies, formerly of the Racing Bulls (VCARB) team, to CEO of Red Bull Racing. Alan Permane steps up as team principal at Racing Bulls, filling Mekies’ previous role. This leadership reshuffle aims to stabilize the team amid ongoing uncertainty.

Horner’s Legacy at Red Bull

Christian Horner’s impact on Red Bull Racing is undeniable:

• 8 Drivers’ Titles (with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen)
• 6 Constructors’ Titles
• Led the team from its inception in 2005, becoming F1’s youngest team principal at the time

Under Horner, Red Bull transformed into one of the sport’s most successful and innovative teams, challenging the dominance of Ferrari and Mercedes.

What’s Next for Red Bull Racing?

The sacking of Christian Horner leaves Red Bull at a crossroads:

• Max Verstappen’s Future: With Verstappen’s contract running until 2028 but containing break clauses, speculation is mounting about a possible move to Mercedes or another rival team.
• Team Rebuilding: The new leadership faces the challenge of reversing Red Bull’s performance slump and restoring morale after a period of instability and high-profile departures.
• F1’s Competitive Landscape: With McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari on the rise, Red Bull must innovate quickly to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving F1 environment

Christian Horner’s departure marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Formula 1 history. His leadership was instrumental in Red Bull’s rise, but the pressures of recent seasons—both on and off the track—proved too great to withstand.

As the F1 world looks ahead, all eyes will be on Laurent Mekies and the Red Bull Racing team to see how they respond to this seismic change.

Christian Horner sacked—a headline that signals not just the end of an era, but the beginning of a new and uncertain future for Red Bull Racing and Formula 1 as a whole.