Christian Horner Sacked From Red Bull After 20 Years
Red Bull has officially parted ways with longtime team principal Christian Horner, ending a two-decade tenure that brought the team eight drivers' titles and six constructors' championships. The move comes amid ongoing internal tensions, poor on-track performance, and unresolved fallout from misconduct allegations against Horner. While he was cleared twice after investigations, the situation stirred lasting unrest within the team, including a widely reported rift with Max Verstappen's father, Jos.
Laurent Mekies, formerly of Ferrari and most recently leading Racing Bulls, has been named CEO of Red Bull Racing. "The last year and a half has been an absolute privilege... I strongly believe this is just the beginning," Mekies said. Alan Permane will take over Mekies’ former role as Racing Bulls’ team principal, marking a full leadership reshuffle as Red Bull looks to steady the ship after a season marked by performance dips and uncertainty about Verstappen’s future.
Red Bull's struggles have been mounting since mid-2024, with just two race wins this season and McLaren overtaking as the team to beat. Star designer Adrian Newey and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley have also left in the past year. Despite the turmoil, Red Bull’s parent company expressed gratitude: "Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history."
