BREAKING NEWS: Christian Horner Fired by Red Bull
- therookiereporters
- Jul 9
- 4 min read
This afternoon, we got the news that the CEO and Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner, has been released from all his duties with immediate effect. After 20 years in this role, it’s time for him to say goodbye. Many people around the paddock are questioning why this sudden change has come about; perhaps last year's sexual assault scandal and Red Bull's current car problems played a part in the termination.
Horner's history at Red Bull
Christian Horner joined the Red Bull Formula 1 project when the team was originally bought from Jaguar F1 Team in 2004. He was appointed Team Principal and CEO of Oracle Red Bull Racing in January 2005, becoming the youngest Team Principal at the time. His duties included team and personnel management, team leadership, and being a team representative in the Formula 1 paddock as well as liaising with the media. Under his leadership, the team got off to an excellent start, besting previous results from Jaguar.
In 2006, when Red Bull achieved its first-ever podium at Monaco, Horner was photographed jumping into a swimming pool wearing only a superhero cape. However, it wasn’t until 2009 that the team had a strong Constructors Championship finish, finishing second with their drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber. The following season, the team took their maiden Championship win - the first of many. This achievement made Horner the second youngest Team Principal to win a Constructors Championship at just 35 years of age.
The team didn’t have to wait long under Horner's leadership to win more championships, winning in 2011, 2012 and 2013 - largely due to Sebastian Vettel and his unprecedented success in the car. After Vettel’s transfer to Ferrari, the team struggled to win another championship until securing young driver, Max Verstappen.
Horner’s influence over Red Bull drivers, Red Bull’s “sister team” Racing Bulls (RB) and Red Bull’s junior development team had a large impact on the team’s monumental success. With Max Verstappen, the team won 2 more Constructor championships, bringing the total to 6. Following this time, Red Bull struggled to find a competitive driver lineup, resulting in a decrease in overall championship points.
Red Bull’s 2025 performance
Oracle Red Bull Racing’s performance has struggled since the beginning of last season. The team lost important figures who were instrumental to Red Bull’s performance and development, such as Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley. Along with this, the team let go of long-time Red Bull driver, Sergio Pérez, only two days after the season ended in Abu Dhabi. Horner, as CEO and Team Principal during this time, likely had a strong influence on this.
Two races into the 2025 season, the team demoted rookie Liam Lawson from Red Bull to its sister team, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. Yuki Tsunoda stepped up, taking his place alongside Max Verstappen. Since then, both drivers have complained about the car's handling and braking ability. The results also show that their performance is getting worse. Right now, Red Bull sits fourth in the constructors standings and third in the drivers standings with Max, both much further down than in previous seasons. Further, Yuki sits much below in 17th, having not been able to adapt to the car.
What’s next for Red Bull?
Given that news of Christian’s firing came almost as a complete surprise to the public, this is a very tough question to consider.
Immediately, however, things are becoming clear quickly. Laurent Mekies, the former Racing Bulls Team Principal, has just been promoted to become the new Red Bull Team Principal, replacing Horner. In addition, Alan Permane, the former Racing Bulls Racing Director, will become Racing Bulls’ Team Principal, further contributing to the increasing clarity around this story.
As for Max Verstappen? He and his dad, Jos Verstappen, had been vocal about their dislike for Christian Horner, with the elder Verstappen making his thoughts clear early last season when alleged WhatsApp messages between Horner and a female employee surfaced.
But with Max Verstappen allegedly considering a move to Mercedes or Aston Martin, what does this mean for his drive in 2026? The change in Team Principal could inspire Verstappen to stay in 2026 and give Laurent Mekies a full season to see if the team becomes more competitive.
Either way, even with this move, Verstappen’s future at Red Bull Racing remains unclear.
And Christian Horner’s future? Only time will tell. It’s hard to say at this moment in time, with the news being so fresh. While rumours of a change in leadership at Ferrari were denied earlier in the season, the fact that Horner is no longer tied up with Red Bull duties could fashion a change in Ferrari’s outlook.
Nonetheless, it is important to remember that this is still a breaking news story. We still do not know the extent of what actually pushed Red Bull leadership to remove Christian Horner from operations. That said, we, at The Rookie Reporters, will be keeping a very close eye out for further developments.
Article Written by Yael Bächler, Olivia Myers, Noah Guttman, Gemma Hickey
