JULY 9, 2025

Red Bull fires Horner after 20 years in charge

Christian Horner has been fired from his role as Team Principal of Red Bull Racing, ending a 20-year tenure that saw the team rise from the midfield to multiple world championships.

Horner, who had led Red Bull Racing since its inception in 2005 following Dietrich Mateschitz’s acquisition of Jaguar Racing, departs amid ongoing internal conflict and mounting pressure from within the organization, including the camp of reigning world champion Max Verstappen.

Laurent Mekies, who has been in charge of the Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri) operation since 2024, has been named Red Bull Racing’s new CEO. The Frenchman will take over immediately, relocating from Faenza, Italy to the team’s headquarters in the United Kingdom in Milton Keynes.

In a statement, Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s CEO of Corporate Projects and New Investments, expressed gratitude to Horner for his two decades of service.

“We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years,” said Mintzlaff. “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.”

The announcement brings to a close a long-running internal dispute that began after the death of company founder Mateschitz in October 2022. With his absence, a power struggle quickly unfolded between Horner and Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.

Initially, Horner appeared to gain the upper hand, backed by Thai shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya, who holds a 51% controlling interest in Red Bull GmbH. Horner was granted sweeping control over the company’s Formula 1 operations, including its famed driver academy. But his dominance stirred opposition from the other key shareholder—Mark Mateschitz, son of Dietrich—who helped protect Marko’s role.

The controversy escalated dramatically in early 2024, when Horner became the subject of an internal investigation following accusations of sexual misconduct and wrongful dismissal by his former personal assistant, Fionna Hewitson. The matter nearly resulted in his firing on the eve of the Bahrain Grand Prix, with Horner reportedly flying to Austria to meet Red Bull executives aboard a private jet.

Although Horner survived that episode thanks to continued support from the Yoovidhya family, the scandal intensified tensions within the team. Jos Verstappen, father and manager of Max Verstappen, openly called for Horner’s resignation, warning that the internal unrest was “tearing the team apart.”

Max Verstappen attempted to remain publicly neutral, repeatedly emphasizing that he had a good working relationship with Horner. But behind the scenes, his management team continued to apply pressure on Red Bull’s leadership to act decisively.

Now, after months of growing scrutiny, Oliver Mintzlaff has responded by firing Horner and beginning a broader restructuring of Red Bull Racing’s leadership. Alongside Horner’s departure, longtime Head of Marketing Olly Hughes and Head of Communications Paul Smith have also left the team.

Mekies is expected to bring a new managerial style to Red Bull Racing, having previously served in senior roles at both Ferrari and the FIA. Several other key leadership positions remain to be filled in the wake of these exits.

Horner leaves as one of the most successful team bosses in Formula 1 history, having overseen Red Bull’s rise to six Constructors’ Championships and eight Drivers’ titles. But his legacy is now overshadowed by the internal fractures and controversy that ultimately led to his dismissal.