Red Bull in Crisis: Horner’s Departure Shakes Up Formula 1
Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium – Red Bull’s arrival at the Belgian Grand Prix came amid a storm of uncertainty, marking the first time since its debut in 2005 that Christian Horner was not present in the paddock. Horner’s surprising dismissal, days after the British Grand Prix, has dominated the news landscape. Max Verstappen, in a crowded press session, addressed the situation, while the new team principal, Laurent Mekies, was scheduled to speak to the media on Friday. However, the absence of statements from key figures above Verstappen and Mekies has been noted. A central figure in the decision was the Austrian executive Oliver Mintzlaff, whose statements accompanied the official statement. Although his presence was expected in Spa-Francorchamps on Friday, he has remained cautious about offering explanations.
Despite the prominence of Horner’s departure, the official reason for his dismissal has not been communicated by the parent company, Red Bull GmbH. Speculation abounds, ranging from internal tensions to possible changes in team dynamics. The possible causes are diverse: reports about Verstappen’s possible departure, the growing political tension between Horner and Helmut Marko, advisor to Red Bull Racing, the persistent animosity with Jos Verstappen, the inconsistent results on the track, and the loss of key figures. The combination of these factors could have influenced the decision. The pressure is on Red Bull GmbH to justify Horner’s abrupt departure. Sources close to the team have expressed surprise and discontent over the lack of explanations. Horner, despite being seen as a media villain, was popular within the team, especially among those who work in the factory. His leadership over two decades, marked by victories and championships, makes the lack of an explanation even more notable. Verstappen, for his part, revealed having expressed his opinions to the “shareholders”, but maintained the privacy of his comments. It is known that Chalerm Yoovidhya, majority shareholder of Red Bull GmbH, visited Verstappen in Monaco to communicate the decision. Despite the known animosity between Horner and his father, Verstappen has stated that Horner was like a “second family” to him and has sent him several messages. Yoovidhya, who had supported Horner for a long time, seems to have changed his mind in recent months, possibly due to the aforementioned factors and pressure from the Austrian part of the company, which owns 49% of it. The voices of Jos Verstappen and Marko, who felt uncomfortable with Horner’s power, also influenced the decision. Internal sources suggest that Red Bull GmbH has no intention of offering an official explanation, resulting in a curious situation given Horner’s impact on the team.Why was Horner fired?
Is Mekies a long-term solution?
Laurent Mekies, as the new director and CEO of Red Bull, has inherited Horner’s roles, which suggests great autonomy. However, the reality could be different. Mekies has a great reputation, both internally and externally. He received praise during Thursday’s briefings, including from Carlos Sainz, former Ferrari driver. Mekies, who was Mattia Binotto’s deputy at Ferrari before leading Red Bull’s junior team, has had a meteoric rise in the last decade. The contrast between Mekies and Horner’s trajectories is notable. While Horner came from the world of competition, Mekies has a background in engineering and trained with the Minardi team, which Red Bull acquired to turn it into its junior team, renamed Toro Rosso. His appointment changes the perception of the search for an effective teammate for Verstappen, as Mekies has worked with Yuki Tsunoda, Isack Hadjar, and Liam Lawson, who appreciate him. His ability to connect with the drivers on a technical level could be what Tsunoda needs to save his career. Away from decisions about the drivers, Mekies’ immediate task will be to improve Red Bull’s performance on the track. Speculation about Verstappen’s move to Mercedes in 2026 seems exaggerated, and the new engine project for next year could influence his stay more than anything Mekies can do. As Verstappen made clear, Horner’s departure does not affect his long-term future, but a fast car would. This presents an unknown for Mekies. One of Horner’s strengths was delegating to his subordinates, allowing the technical department to operate independently. Mekies has a technical background, but it remains to be seen how any interference in Red Bull Racing’s technical department will be received. Also, there’s the commercial aspect of Mekies’ new position. Sources close to the meeting confirm that a key moment in recent weeks was a conversation between Horner and Mintzlaff during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. Mintzlaff told Horner that they wanted to dilute his role in commercial oversight, returning it to the Austrian side of the company, overseen by Mark Mateschitz, son of Dietrich Mateschitz. It’s unlikely that Mateschitz would have had that conversation with Horner last month just to give Mekies a similar mandate when he had the opportunity to restart the process. While Mekies brings a different approach and knowledge on the technical side, his experience on the commercial aspect is unknown and unproven. Horner, on the other hand, was a shrewd negotiator, who attracted sponsors like Oracle and Ford. It’s hard to imagine Mekies having the same power from a commercial point of view. According to conversations with sources from both teams, it is likely that Red Bull Racing will appoint a CEO, or something similar, to focus on the commercial aspect. This approach would be in line with the structure from which Mekies has just been promoted: his replacement as Racing Bulls team principal, Alan Permane, will report to the team’s CEO, Peter Bayer, as Mekies did.
