Horner Out of Red Bull: End of an Era in Formula 1

Christian Horner leaves Red Bull after two decades

Red Bull team confirmed this Wednesday the departure of Christian Horner, who leaves his position as team director after 20 years. Horner had been at the head of the team since 2005, overseeing its successful seasons in the 2010s and the current one. Internal sources indicate that the atmosphere within the team had become tense, a situation aggravated by the challenges on the track this year and the uncertainty about the future of Max Verstappen, the star driver. In the last month, Horner denied reports suggesting a possible interest from Ferrari to replace Fred Vasseur.

Horner’s situation seemed secure while he had the support of Chalerm Yoovidhya, Red Bull’s majority shareholder. However, this dynamic seems to have changed. The news comes a year after Horner kept his position following an internal investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct. This deepened the political divisions after the death of Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.

Last year also saw the departure of Adrian Newey, technical director, to Aston Martin. Laurent Mekies, former Racing Bulls team director, has been promoted to CEO of Red Bull Racing. Under Horner’s leadership, Red Bull won eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ championships. The team achieved its 124 Grand Prix victories under his direction. This year, the frustrations within the team were evident, with Verstappen repeatedly expressing his problems with the car. Verstappen’s future in the team has also been questioned, with Mercedes monitoring the exit clauses in his contract related to performance.

We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years. With his tireless commitment, experience, knowledge 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 always be an important part of our team’s history.

Oliver Mintzlaff

Red Bull has confirmed that Alan Permane has replaced Mekies as the junior team director, having previously been the director of Racing Bulls.