Christian Horner: The Director of the Red Bull F1 team has dismissed after 20 years in charge of the holding of Milton Keynes | F1 News
Christian Horner was dismissed by Red Bull with immediate effect after 20 years as director of the Formula 1 team team.
Horner has been in charge of Red Bull since 2005, leading them to six manufacturers and eight pilot championships.
Laurent Mekies was appointed CEO of Red Bull Racing, passing from the Racing Bulls team.
“We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work in the past 20 years,” said Red Bull Managing Director Oliver Mintzlaff.
“With his tireless commitment, his experience, his expertise and his innovative thought, he played a decisive role in the creation of Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams of Formula 1.
“Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of the history of our team.”
Horner supervised two periods of domination by Red Bull in Formula 1, with Sebastian Vettel and the team winning four pilot championships and consecutive manufacturers of 2010-2013 and Max Verstappen winning the last four pilot championships of 2021-2024. Red Bull was also champion of manufacturers in 2022 and 2023.
Horner faced a turbulent 18 months on the track and off the track.
The allegations of inappropriate behavior brought against him in February 2024 by a colleague were rejected following a call last summer. Horner denied the accusations throughout.
Red Bull has seen several high -level characters leaving in the last 18 months, notably the legendary designer Adrian Newey in Aston Martin and sports director Jonathan Wheatley in Sauber.
Horner’s last Horner race was the British GP on Sunday in Silverstone, where Verstappen started in pole position but finished fifth after a turn in the wet.
The quadruple champion Verstappen is 69 points behind the leader of the Oscar Piastri championship halfway to the season.
Red Bull is currently fourth in the manufacturers’ classification, 288 points behind the McLaren leaders with Ferrari and Mercedes also in front of them in the standings.
More to follow …
