It appears the warning signs were already there for Christian Horner before he was sacked by Red Bull this week. The 51-year-old was removed from his post as team principal and CEO after 20 years at the helm, replaced with immediate effect by Laurent Mekies.
He’s since visited the Red Bull base at Milton Keynes to pay an emotional farewell to colleagues. The decision followed an internal power struggle between Horner and team advisor Helmut Marko and the outfit’s struggling start to the 2025 campaign. Indeed, Horner had already been relieved of some responsibilities before his final dismissal.
At one point, Horner held a number of senior positions with Red Bull. He oversaw the technical and engine departments and the marketing division, as well as chairing the development team, Racing Bulls.
Upon being removed from his marketing role, Horner was reportedly unhappy. According to Bild, he contested the decision but backed down when Red Bull’s majority shareholder, Chalerm Yoovidhya, threatened to cut off contact.
The 74-year-old Thai businessman owns a 51 per cent stake in Red Bull GmbH. The son of Chaloe, co-creator of the brand’s energy drink, he is thought to have a significant influence on the company’s F1 teams.
Despite the warning, Horner’s sacking was still considered a surprise. His contract wasn’t due to expire until the end of 2030, meaning he’s now in line for a considerable payoff.
Last year, Horner survived a scandal at Red Bull after a female employee accused him of inappropriate behaviour. After an internal investigation, he was cleared of wrongdoing, and the complainant’s subsequent appeal was also dismissed.
However, the scandal only increased scrutiny of his position. Jos Verstappen, the father of reigning world champion Max, publicly called for Horner to be removed after the saga.
