Red Bull Bombshell: Horner Ousted After 20 Years!

In a shock announcement, Red Bull have relieved long-term Team Principal Christian Horner from his position with immediate effect. Christian had been a part of the team for 20 years and has seen it go from strength to strength. However, recent events have meant that he will no longer be partaking in the race team. Laurent Mekies is set to replace him having served as Team Principal for the sister team, Racing Bulls F1 Team, this season.

Formula 1 is a notoriously cut throat sport, and this departure is no different. Christian Horner, whether you like him or not, has done incredible things for Red Bull. Just on stats alone, he has headed the team to six Constructors Championships; eight Drivers Championships; one hundred and twenty four race wins; twelve sprint wins; two hundred and eighty-seven podiums; one hundred and seven pole positions, and one hundred fastest laps.

Comparatively, Ferrari went through six team principals in the same time frame and secured significantly less: sixty-five race wins; two constructors titles and one drivers title.

But those are just stats.

Christian Horner worked wonders within the team, having been brought in to the team in their second year of existence. Red Bull which at that point was simply an energy drinks company was venturing into motorsport, and not just any kind of motorsport, they were entering the pinnacle, Formula 1. In this sport, if you don't succeed, you sink, and there is no coming back.

Horner managed to turn the bones of Jaguar F1 Team into the empire of Red Bull Racing that we all know and love today. Having joined in 2005 as the youngest ever Team Principal at the time, just 31 years old, Horner built a dynasty that saw the team on the podium in only their second season. That podium saw the creation of the iconic photo of Christian in nothing but a superhero cape jumping into the pool in Monaco.

Throughout the years Christian managed to build an empire, under his tenure Red Bull rose to become one of the most dominant teams in the sport, particularly during the early 2010s, and again more recently with Max Verstappen's dominance. He has also been instrumental in the team's decision to develop their own engines, a decision which the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes are already well versed in. This decision is key to the future of Red Bull's success.

Despite all this, Red Bull have dismissed Horner with immediate effect and according to him, without reason.

Image: F1.com

So why was the longest serving Team Principal, after Sir Frank Williams, let go of in the middle of the season? What went wrong?

As is the case for many things, when things are going well nothing matters, but the instant things start to falter, someone has to be to blame. In the case for Christian there has been a series of unfortunate events which has led up to this moment, not least the scandal of February 2024 - which he has been acquitted of after both internal and external investigations. However, as is the case for accusations of such nature - in the 'Me Too' era, they are not forgiven nor forgotten easily, quickly, or in some cases, at all.

Despite that acquittal, the team behind Max Verstappen have used it like a dog with a bone. Ever since these revealations in Bahrain last year, the Verstappen camp have used these accusations to force Red Bull's hand. Just last weekend, Red Bull's hand was forced further after whispers of Max Verstappen being in talks with Mercedes for the following season came to light. These whispers gained traction after they were not denied by the star driver.

Red Bull have found themselves at a turning point ever since the death of their founder, Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022. Since then, the team has found itself at loggerheads between the Austrian and Thai counterparts. Christian Horner had the full support of Chalerm Yoovidhya, who owns a 51% stake in Red Bull, whilst the Verstappen team and Helmut Marko were supported by the Austrian stakeholders.

It is speculated that following the 'Verstappen to Mercedes' rumours, the Thai founders could no longer fight for Horner, and instead it was either: Christian goes, or Max goes. In this case, with the talent and support that Max Verstappen has, his sway is far more significant than that of a team principals.

In addition to this power play, the past year and a half has seen Red Bull in a significant brain-drain with key figures making their own ways out of the team. The most publicly significant figure was Adrian Newey who had been onboarded by Horner back in 2006, and who defined Red Bull's successes alongside Christian. Other key departures include Johnathon Wheatley, formally Red Bull's Sporting Director; Will Courtenay, Head of Strategy; Rob Marshall, Chief Engineering Officer, and numerous others who did not make the headlines.

All of these factors came into play to push Horner out of the team, speculation has occurred throughout the paddock that he was running on borrowed time for a while now.

Writing on social media, Christian stated:

"After an incredible journey of twenty years together, it is with a heavy heart that today I say goodbye to the Team I have absolutely loved... It's been a privilege being part of and leading this epic Team and I am so proud of our collective accomplishments and you all...

It's been an honour to be part of this incredible era of motorsport. I leave with immense pride in what we've achieved and also with what's in the pipeline for 2026 - and huge respect for everyone who's made F1 the pinnacle it is today. Thank you."

It is unsure whether Christian will remain in Red Bull, but if that is not the case, it is almost certain he will remain an integral part of Formula 1, and will almost definitely become a part of one of the other ten teams in the paddock.