Sports

Red Bull Sacks Christian Horner After 20 Years as Team Principal

JUL 9 2025·Updated JUL 10 2025

Story

Above: Christian Horner at the Silverstone Circuit on July 5, 2025. Image credit: Bradley Collyer/PA Images/Getty Images

The Facts

Red Bull Racing terminated Christian Horner as team principal and chief executive with immediate effect on Wednesday, ending his 20-year tenure since the team's formation in January 2005.
BBC News
guardian
In a statement published on X, Red Bull thanked Horner for his "tireless and exceptional work" in building "one of the most successful [teams] in F1." Red Bull also added that he would "forever remain an important part of our team's history."
X
Laurent Mekies, a 48-year-old French engineer who previously served as the team principal of Racing Bulls and Ferrari's racing director, has been appointed as Horner's replacement as CEO of Red Bull Racing.
Al Jazeera
The Telegraph
The dismissal follows 17 months of controversy after Horner faced allegations of inappropriate behavior from a female employee in February 2024. Horner, however, was cleared twice by internal investigations and has denied any wrongdoing.
Daily Mail
guardian
Red Bull has struggled this season, winning only two races compared to their dominant 2023 campaign, in which they won 21 of 22 races, and currently sit fourth in the Constructors' Championship, behind McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes.
Al Jazeera
City AM
BBC News
Max Verstappen's future with the team remains uncertain as he trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 69 points at the season's midway point, with Mercedes reportedly courting the four-time world champion.
The Telegraph
guardian
Al Jazeera

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

Despite his firing, Horner will be remembered as one of the greatest team principals and CEOs in F1 history. Under his guidance, Red Bull Racing won eight Drivers' Championships and six Constructors' Championships. His replacement, Laurent Mekies, will build upon Horner's legacy to return Red Bull to replicate its past success.

Oracle Red Bull Racing

Speedcafe.com

Narrative B

Horner's removal was long overdue, given the toxic atmosphere he created within the team. The allegations of inappropriate behavior, power struggles with key figures such as Jos Verstappen and Helmut Marko, and declining on-track performance made his position untenable. Red Bull needed fresh leadership to retain Max Verstappen and return to form.