Red Bull have sacked team principal Christian Horner after 20 years in charge of the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
The 51-year-old has been with Red Bull since they took over Jaguar in 2005. Becoming the youngest team principal in F1 history, he guided the team to eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championships.
Horner did not know why Red Bull had sacked him, according to Martin Brundle, who spoke to him immediately after the news broke. But the team’s regression over the last few months reveals a clear reason for his sudden exit.
Red Bull ‘sources’ claim that the team’s struggles contributed to Horner’s demise, as they heightened the tense atmosphere surrounding the team. Max Verstappen is 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, while Yuki Tsunoda is 17th with just 10 points.
If not for the four-time champion’s points, Red Bull would be last in the constructors’ championship. Subsequently, he has been calling for change, with Verstappen pushing for Horner’s exit amid his dissatisfaction with the technical department and his talks with Mercedes.
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Damon Hill has ‘doubt’ that Red Bull will not have the ‘great new beginning’ after sacking Christian Horner
News of Horner’s sacking came almost out of nowhere and left fans and pundits alike stunned. Bernie Ecclestone does not understand why Horner was sacked with immediate effect, stating that something must have gone horribly wrong for this drastic decision to be made.
The team now find themselves in a critical period of their history as they work towards the 2026 F1 regulations, where they will introduce their power unit with partners Ford. Horner played a key role in turning Red Bull into a works team, but his departure gives them a huge task ahead.
Horner joins the likes of Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley and Rob Marshall to have left Red Bull in recent months. With so many key staff leaving the operation, which has already had a damaging impact, many doubt where the team will end up in the near and distant future.
Damon Hill was left questioning if this was the right decision. Writing via X (formerly Twitter), he doubts whether Red Bull will have the ‘great new beginning’ they hope for after making such a drastic change.
“CH enjoyed massive support from the team he built. I really doubt if a replacement will be able to fill those boots. This might not be the great new beginning some are hoping for. A Palace Coup rarely has good outcomes. But it will be a huge story for F1, seeing how this goes.” said Hill.
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Can Laurent Mekies improve Red Bull after Christian Horner’s exit?
Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies will replace Horner as CEO of Red Bull. Alan Permane will step up to replace the Frenchman at the Faenza outfit.
Mekies has a wealth of experience in F1, having worked for the likes of Arrows, Minardi, Ferrari and the FIA. Stepping up to Red Bull, he has a huge job ahead of him to steady the ship and bring performance.
With 2026 fast approaching, he will be under pressure to salvage a strong finish to 2025 and ensure that next year’s engine is competitive, especially when his star driver is considering leaving. Verstappen’s camp has doubts about Red Bull in 2026 and whether he can make the ‘big step’.
But Mekies’ expertise will go a long way to building the team back to being a competitive outfit. Mekies could also be crucial for Tsunoda, given their time together at Racing Bulls, as he looks to save his F1 career.
