Christian Horner has been removed from his position as team principal of Red Bull, marking the end of a two-decade era at the helm of the team. During his tenure, the UK-based team achieved eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ championships.
Under Horner’s leadership, Red Bull achieved 124 Grand Prix victories and 287 podium finishes. His departure comes after 17 months of accusations of misconduct and a decline in Red Bull’s performance this season.
In 2005, the Red Bull Racing team, born from Dietrich Mateschitz’s acquisition of Jaguar Racing, appointed Christian Horner as director. At just 31 years old, Horner became the youngest team principal in F1 history, a record he still holds.
The First Victory in a Grand Prix
In 2009, Sebastian Vettel’s victory at the Chinese Grand Prix was the first for Red Bull. Mark Webber secured a 1-2 for the team, marking the beginning of a successful era under Horner’s direction. Vettel would become a four-time world champion.
Double Success in 2010
In 2010, Red Bull and Horner consolidated their dominance by winning both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. Vettel, after a comeback in the last race in Abu Dhabi, secured both titles for the team.
Years with Renault
Following the introduction of hybrid engines in 2014, Red Bull struggled with Renault engines, resulting in a challenging period for Horner. Tensions with Renault’s Cyril Abiteboul marked this era. The partnership ended in 2018, with Red Bull switching to Honda engines, coinciding with their return to championship contention.
The Rise of Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen, at just 18 years old, became the youngest winner of an F1 race at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, in his debut with Red Bull. Horner recognized Verstappen’s talent and promoted him to the main team after only four races of the 2016 season. The Dutch driver achieved 65 victories, four drivers’ championships and contributed to two constructors’ championships under Horner’s direction.
Misconduct Investigation
In February 2024, a Red Bull employee filed accusations against Horner for “inappropriate and controlling behavior.” Although he was cleared of the charges after an independent investigation, text messages allegedly sent by Horner were subsequently leaked. His wife, Geri Horner, publicly supported him.
Horner is Dismissed by Red Bull
After 20 years at the helm, Horner was dismissed on July 9. Sources reported that several meetings took place before his departure, which occurred during the Austrian Grand Prix and the British Grand Prix. Laurent Mekies, Racing Bulls team director, will replace him at Red Bull.
