Christian Horner’s 20-Year Reign Ends in Scandal-Soaked Silence: Red Bull Sacks Team Boss 12 Months After F1's Most Controversial Text Leak

CHRISTIAN HORNER has been sacked as Red Bull team principal with immediate effect after 20 years in charge.

Horner, 51, was the longest reigning F1 boss after becoming head honcho of the Austrian team during its inception in 2005.

Christian Horner has been sacked by Red BullCredit: Reuters

The 51-year-old helped Red Bull to win six Constructors’ titlesCredit: AFP

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko is thought to have been informed of the decisionCredit: Alamy
It comes a year after the ‘sexting scandal’ that engulfed him over texts he apparently sent to a female employee.

Despite keeping his job in the aftermath of the chaos, Red Bull have slumped down both the Drivers and Constructors standings, with Max Verstappen reportedly eyeing a move to huge rivals Mercedes.

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

“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.”

Laurent Mekies has been appointed as the new CEO, stepping up from the Racing Bulls team.

Red Bull told Horner of the shock decision on Tuesday evening before he addressed the team in an emotional speech on Wednesday morning at their UK base in Milton Keynes.

Horner, who is married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, led Red Bull in two phases to world championship success.

Horner won eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ titlesCredit: Getty

Laurent Mekies has been appointed as the new CEO of Red Bull RacingCredit: Getty
The first was through Sebastian Vettel’s glory days from 2009-14 and then Verstappen’s current era – which could end sooner rather than later.

In total, Red Bull with Horner won EIGHT drivers’ championships and six constructors’ titles.

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.

Horner reportedly had another row with Jos Verstappen, father of Max, at Silverstone, according to former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher.

Schumacher told the Boxengasse-podcast: “There was another argument or a heated exchange, at least visually and verbally between Jos, Christian Horner, and the press officer.

“You could see that Jos was anything but happy with the situation”.

It comes after a series of rows between Verstappen Snr and Horner, with the Dutchman repeatedly calling for Horner’s dismissal after the sexting scandal broke hours before the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2024.

Jos and Horner have been at loggerheads after the Brit survived accusations of coercive behaviour towards a colleague – and was twice cleared in internal investigations of wrongdoing.

Allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against him in February 2024 by a female team member were dismissed following a three-week internal probe.

Horner was accused of sending suggestive WhatsApp messages, in texts that were leaked a month later in March 2024. He denied the accusations throughout.

The woman apparently grew tired of her boss’s pleas for pictures and sexy chat, according to the WhatsApp dossier.

Horner reportedly had another row with Jos Verstappen at SilverstoneCredit: Shutterstock Editorial

Horner attended virtually every single F1 race in 2005
A KC cleared Horner for a second time in August after the unnamed accuser launched an appeal following the internal probe.

His £12million-a-year job was secured by support from the Thai majority owners of Red Bull – but that seems to have worn out.

However in recent months, rumours have swept the paddock about a looming axing for Horner.

Max Verstappen, 27, denied these stories as mere speculation ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May.

Internal tensions in the team did not help Horner’s situation, with the relationship between Jos and Horner particularly strained.

The first verbal volley came from Jos last March, who instantly accused Horner of “playing the victim, when he’s the one causing the problems.”

Jos added that the team were “in danger of being torn apart” if Horner remains in his role after the sexting scandal broke.

They next locked horns in Bahrain paddock, shortly after Horner was exonerated of any wrongdoing from the investigation.

The relationship between Jos and Horner was particularly strainedCredit: PA

Jos and Horner’s wife Geri chatting in BahrainCredit: Getty
Jos went at Horner again after iconic designer Adrian Newey quit the team in May 2024, with son Max trying to play peacemaker.

McLaren’s rise to power last summer left Jos saying Red Bull were “dead” after snubbing a legends parade in Austria.

Horner then publicly hit back raging: “You have to question what are the motives?” after Mercedes were first linked with the reigning world champ.

He added: “So I think it’s purely a tactic of distraction. Of course if he does want a Verstappen for next year, then I guess Jos is potentially available.”

And before Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix in March this year, Jos raged that he would “expode” if Horner remained in his position.

Horner’s wife Geri was reportedly devastated by the scandal, but stood by her husband in showing signs of solidarity at key races.

Geri and Christian appeared hand in hand at the Bahrain Grand Prix after the scandal brokeCredit: Getty

The couple embrace despite the drama unfolding off the trackCredit: PA
Ginger Spice walked hand-in-hand with her hubby in Bahrain last year, as the couple shared a kiss in the Red Bull hospitality unit after Verstappen’s win.

A source told The Sun last August the drama had meant “weeks of hell” for the family and added: “Geri is very relieved.

“It has been a horrible process but she has loyally and staunchly stood by Christian throughout the entire ordeal.”

In his recent interview, Horner continued to praise his singer wife and explained how she helped him overcome the scandal.

He added: “She saw through a lot of things from having an outside perspective and it is good to have that weight and measure. It is hugely important.”

The couple, who have been married since 2015, have a child together and two children from previous relationships.

Horner also claimed Red Bull’s success had opened him up to a scandal like this, with Netflix series Drive to Survive delving into the controversy.

He said: “What happened at the start of the year felt like a perfect storm.

“In life, it is a great lesson that the more success you have, the more of a target you become.”

Meanwhile, four-time world champion Verstappen has been unhappy with recent results, with the team a staggering 288 points behind leaders McLaren in the Constructors Championship.

The Dutchman has been linked with a switch to Mercedes next season after finding himself third and 69 points behind Drivers Championship leader Oscar Piastri, and 61 behind Lando Norris.

Red Bull has seen several high-profile figures leave over the past 18 months, including Newey to Aston Martin and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley to Sauber.

Horner also dropped rookie Liam Lawson after just two races this season, while Yuki Tsunoda has also struggled in the second Red Bull car and been the last driver to finish in the last two races.

Mekies will lead Red Bull for the first time at the Belgian Grand Prix on July 27 after a three week break.

Alan Permane, currently Racing Director, is set to be promoted to team principal at Racing Bulls.