Red Bull Racing has announced the immediate dismissal of Christian Horner as team principal, ending a 20-year tenure that saw the team rise to the top of Formula One. The sudden move marks the end of an era for the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Laurent Mekies, current team principal of sister team Racing Bulls, has been named as Horner’s successor and will assume the role of CEO of Red Bull Racing. Mekies, a French motorsport aerodynamics expert, began his Formula One career in the early 2000s and previously held roles with Arrows, Minardi, Toro Rosso, and Ferrari. He joined Racing Bulls in 2024.
Red Bull’s official statement, issued Wednesday, did not provide a reason for Horner’s departure.
“Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today [Wednesday, July 9, 2025],” the statement read. “We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years.”
Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO of Corporate Projects and Investments at Red Bull, praised Horner’s contributions: “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.”
Speaking to Media, ex-F1 driver and commentator Martin Brundle said Horner himself had not been given a reason for the decision.
A turbulent 18 months preceded Horner’s sacking. He had been under scrutiny since early 2024 following leaked allegations of sexual harassment and controlling behavior by a female employee. Though twice cleared by Red Bull’s Austrian headquarters, the controversy lingered.
The situation escalated when Jos Verstappen, father of star driver Max Verstappen, publicly called for Horner to step down, warning that his continued presence was damaging team morale.
Red Bull also faced another major setback in early 2025 with the departure of legendary chief technical officer Adrian Newey to Aston Martin. Newey, a key figure behind the team’s engineering success since 2006, was a longtime ally of Horner.
Horner’s achievements during his Red Bull reign were significant. Appointed in 2005, he led the team to its first drivers’ title in 2010 with Sebastian Vettel, ushering in four consecutive championships. After a dominant Mercedes era, Red Bull returned to the top with Max Verstappen, securing four straight titles from 2021 to 2024. In 2023, the team achieved the most dominant season in F1 history, winning 21 of 22 races, with Verstappen claiming a record-breaking 10 consecutive victories.
However, the 2025 season has been less favorable. Verstappen currently trails McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris and has all but conceded the title. Speaking in April, he admitted he was no longer in contention, saying, “I am just taking part in this world championship.”
Rumors continue to swirl about Verstappen’s potential move to Mercedes. Yet, Brundle believes Horner’s exit could ease internal tensions and convince the Dutch driver to stay. “It makes it more likely that Verstappen will stay,” he said. “It became personal in Team Verstappen.”
As Red Bull enters a new chapter under Laurent Mekies, questions remain about the team’s direction and whether it can regain its dominant form without the leadership of its long-serving architect.
