Christian Horner’s sacking from Red Bull shook the F1 world, but Martin Brundle saw a sign that something was rumbling under the surface, before the news was reported

Martin Brundle has offered his thoughts on Christian Horner’s sacking by Red Bull(Image: Sky Sports F1/YouTube)

Christian Horner was “very, very quiet” and “introverted” at the memorial of the late Eddie Jordan two days before his Red Bull sacking. That is according to Martin Brundle, who was with Horner barely 48 hours before his Red Bull exit was announced.

Horner, aged 51, was shown the door by the F1 giants following a tenure that saw the team clinch six Constructors’ Championships and eight World Drivers’ titles with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. He had been integral to Red Bull’s F1 story, joining as the youngest ever team principal in 2005, following their acquisition of Jaguar.

His exit was marked by an emotional goodbye at Red Bull’s Milton Keynes base, where he reportedly shed some tears. The British GP – which saw Verstappen finish fifth, while Lando Norris took the title at Silverstone – proved to be Horner’s final race at Red Bull.

While speaking to Horner at Jordan’s memorial, Brundle admitted that he sensed something was afoot in his demeanour. The ex-driver-turned-reporter told the Sky Sports F1 podcast: “I saw Christian on Monday at the Eddie Jordan memorial and he was very, very quiet and very introverted.

“I must say, [he was] clearly a bit out of sorts. So, I’m perhaps not totally surprised. I’m saddened, because, I think Christian’s done an incredible job picking up the bones of what was the Jaguar F1 team and what he’s achieved in the last 20 years there.

“I consider him a friend, so it’s a pity it’s ended so abruptly like this. I did try to speak to Christian before we did this and he said he’ll talk later… but that he hadn’t been given any reason [for his sacking].

“It’s seismic because he was such an integral part of the Red Bull team. He got Adrian Newey involved and, for example, every point, every podium, every victory, every World Championship that Max has and other drivers like Sebastian Vettel, Christian was at the helm.”

Brundle was with Horner barely 48 hours before the news was announced(Image: Kym Illman, Getty Images)

Sky Sports News has also claimed that two senior management figures within the company have followed Horner out of the exit door. The energy drinks brand confirmed that Laurent Mekies will be stepping up from Racing Bulls to replace him as chief executive officer and team principal.

His exit brings an end to a testing 18 months. That spell began with allegations of inappropriate behaviour by a female colleague, which he denied, being made against him in February 2024, before they were dismissed after an appeal that summer.

While Verstappen lifted his fourth world title in the 2024 campaign, McLaren claimed the Constructors’ Championship. They have since usurped Red Bull in both areas.

Horner’s last race as Red Bull team principal was the British GP(Image: Getty)

McLaren duo Norris and Piastri are both ahead of third-placed Verstappen, who is 69 points behind the latter. Red Bull are also currently fourth in the team standings.

They are a whopping 288 points behind McLaren. Moreover, Horner has had to grapple with Newey’s departure to Aston Martin and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley’s move to Sauber.

Horner has previously been linked with moves to Ferrari and Alpine, but has always pledged to remain loyal to Red Bull. Now that the F1 powerhouses have chosen to part with him, it remains to be seen if Horner is still reluctant to move to another F1 side.