Ecclestone also spoke out about the timing of the decision

BERNIE ECCLESTONE has labelled Christian Horner ‘an idiot’ in the wake of his Red Bull sacking earlier this week.

The ex-Red Bull team principal seemed a permanent fixture in F1 until allegations of him sending suggestive WhatsApp messages to a female employee emerged last year.

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Christian Horner was this week dismissed by Red BullCredit: PA

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Bernie Ecclestone is friends with Horner – but didn’t mince his wordsCredit: AFP
Horner, 51, has consistently denied the claims of inappropriate and controlling behaviour made against him.

In February 2024, Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing after multiple probes.

He spent a tumultuous three weeks fighting for his career after a female colleague alleged controlling and coercive behaviour by the boss.

The probe later investigated him allegedly sending improper messages to a woman.

A KC cleared Horner for a second time in August after the unnamed accuser launched an appeal following the internal probe.

Now F1 legend Bernie Ecclestone – a longtime friend of Horner – has criticised him for his conduct regarding the scandal.

He told the Telegraph: “This other business that he got involved with 18 months ago, he was just an idiot.

“He was a 50-year-old who thought he was 20, thought he was one of the boys.”

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Horner with Spice Girl wife GeriCredit: Splash

Ecclestone and Horner’s friendship extends to beyond the latter’s arrival at Red Bull, with the pair reportedly attending each others weddings.

Ex-Formula One boss Ecclestone was not surprised with the sacking, suggesting that unease surrounding Horner’s prominence within the Red Bull brand could have played a role.

He said: “It would probably have been better if they had said ‘Come in Christian, sit down.’

“But the bottom line is there are people who thought he was getting away with things, that he was acting as if it was not the Red Bull ring, but the Christian Horner ring.”

Horner gave an emotional speech to Red Bull staff following his sacking.

He was not the only staff member to be fired, with a number of his closest allies also axed.

Ecclestone suggests the timing of the decision to move on from Horner coinciding with Red Bull’s struggles to compete this season is not a coincidence.

He continued: “He got away with so many things.

“All the time you are delivering , people close their eyes – but when you stop delivering, people start looking.

“One or two begin thinking ‘Well I could do a better job.'”

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen is third in the standings while Red Bull trail McLaren by a whopping 288 points in the Constructors standings at the half way stage of the season.

The British racing executive ran the Red Bull F1 team for 20 years since his appointment in 2005, in which time he has become one of the most decorated team bosses of all time.

Horner’s tenure oversaw six constructors titles and EIGHT drivers’ championships across dominant spells with Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.

The latter posted an emotional farewell to Horner following the dismissal.

Horner will be succeeded in his role by French engineer Laurent Mekies.