Christian Horner has been sacked as Red Bull Formula 1 team boss after 20 years.
In a statement Red Bull said that Horner, who until now has been at the helm of the squad for its entire existence, has been “released from his operational duties with effect from today”.
Laurent Mekies, currently team principal of Red Bull’s second F1 team Racing Bulls, will replace Horner. In turn, Racing Bulls racing director Alan Permane will become team principal of the junior squad.
Horner has served as Red Bull’s team principal since the squad first entered Formula 1 in the 2005 season by buying the Jaguar Racing squad from Ford. He impressed Red Bull through his leadership of his own Arden International squad, which was then a frontrunner in Formula 3000. Horner had been looking for a way to move his team into F1 when the Red Bull opportunity arose.
At the time of his appointment Horner became F1’s youngest-ever team principal, and he has an immediate impact: he was key to Red Bull’s successful efforts to poach ace designer Adrian Newey from McLaren in late 2005, and helped the team expand and work to the sharp end of the grid. With ample money from its energy drinks parent firm, Red Bull was able to break into the rarified elite of a sport long dominated by Ferrari, McLaren and Williams – and has managed to sustain that success since.
Red Bull claimed its first drivers’ and constructors’ titles in 2009 with Sebastian Vettel, when Horner was still just 35. In his 20 years leading the team, Horner led Red Bull to 124 race wins, six constructors’ and eight drivers’ titles, with four each for Vettel and Max Verstappen.
But there has been a slide in performance in recent seasons that has likely cost Horner his job: Red Bull lost the constructors’ title to McLaren last year, and is languishing in fourth place in this year’s points race. Meanwhile, Newey has left for Aston Martin and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley has switched to Sauber (soon to become Audi). Verstappen’s future at the team is also in doubt, with reports he is in talks with Mercedes.
Horner, married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, has enjoyed a high profile as a team principal as F1’s popularity has boomed and has been outspoken in his opinions, both in interviews and in his appearances on Drive to Survive.
There has also been controversy: in early 2024 an internal investigation was launched after a female Red Bull employee made allegations of inappropriate behaviour. The investigation was conducted by an external lawyer, and Horner was subsequently cleared of all wrongdoing.
