Formula 1, Red Bull fires team principal Christian Horner

Incredible but true: Christian Horner will leave his role as team principal of Red Bull with immediate effect after 20 years, according to the team's Formula 1 announcement. The 51-year-old Englishman had been at the head of the team since its debut in Formula One in 2005, and won a total of eight drivers' world titles and six constructors' championships with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. The decision comes after several talks between the energy drink company's majority shareholders - Thailand's Chalerm Yoovidhya and Mark Mateschitz, heir to founder Dietrich - and Oliver Mintzlaff, head of the group's sports division.

So Horner will have to leave Red Bull despite a contract expiring in 2030. Horner's fortunes began to wane in the last 18 months after he was accused of sexual harassment and controlling behaviour by an employee. Although Horner, whose wife, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, has always supported him and stood by him during testing and racing, has been exonerated twice, this has created discontent within the team, weakening Horner's position and prompting several 'departures' of prominent figures; thus also the performance of the cars has not been the same even though Red Bull has continued to be, with McLaren, the top team in F1.

"Red Bull has relieved Christian Horner of his operational duties as of today, Wednesday 9 July 2025," the team's statement read, "and appointed Laurent Mekies CEO of Red Bull Racing," the Red Bull statement read. Oliver Mintzlaff, ceo Corporate Projects and Investments, then paid tribute to the outgoing team principal. "We would like to thank Christian Horner for his outstanding work over the past 20 years," are his words referred to in the statement. "With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in making Red Bull Racing one of the most successful and fascinating teams in F1. Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team's history."

Horner's dismissal comes at a time when Max Verstappen is rumoured to be tempted to move to Mercedes in 2026. Although the 27-year-old Dutchman won the title last year, he has only finished on the top step of the podium twice in the last 14 races. Other key figures responsible for Red Bull's dominance have left in the last year and a half. Legendary designer Adrian Newey has signed for Aston Martin and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley has joined Sauber, which is beginning to show the first signs of its influence with Nico Hulkenberg on his first ever podium finish, in last Sunday's British Grand Prix.

Verstappen, on the other hand, finished in a disappointing fifth place, despite having started from the pole position. At the moment Max is clearly dissatisfied with the car, so much so that during the Silverstone race he said over the radio in the pits "this car is really difficult to drive", which only further fuelled the rumours of his farewell. Verstappen is 69 points behind the championship leader Oscar Piastri at the halfway point of the season, while in the constructors' standings Red Bull is fourth, 288 points behind the leader McLaren, and also behind Ferrari and Mercedes. And in the meantime it is already 'market', with rumours of Horner possibly joining Ferrari in place of Frederic Vasseur. Whether or not these are fantasies, the future will determine.