Christian Horner Sacked by Red Bull After 20 Years as Boss

Photo: Reuters

Christian Horner, who has been the team principal of Red Bull Racing since 2005, has been sacked. He worked with the team for almost 20 years. Horner is 51 years old and has played a very important role in building Red Bull Racing into a top Formula 1 team.

This decision was announced by Red Bull GmbH, the parent company of Red Bull Racing, on Wednesday. They said Horner was removed from his role as team principal and his operational duties with immediate effect. Laurent Mekies has now been appointed as the new CEO (chief executive officer) of Red Bull Racing.

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Horner’s Long Journey with Red Bull Racing

Christian Horner joined Red Bull Racing when the team was first created in 2005. At that time, Red Bull was a new team in Formula 1. Under his leadership, Red Bull Racing grew into one of the strongest and most popular teams in Formula 1 history.

With Horner as boss, Red Bull won many championships. The team won the Drivers' Championship eight times. The first four were won by Sebastian Vettel between 2010 and 2013. Later, Max Verstappen won four consecutive titles from 2021 to 2024 under Horner’s guidance.

They also won the Constructors' Championship six times, which shows how powerful the team became during his leadership. Constructors’ Championship is given to the team that earns the highest points in a season.

Why Was Horner Sacked?

Even though Christian Horner achieved so much, he has faced many problems recently. There were two major reasons behind his sacking:

1. Declining Performance of Red Bull Racing

In the current Formula 1 season, Red Bull Racing is not performing as well as before. They have won only two races this season. McLaren has now become the team to beat on the track. Red Bull’s decline actually started in the middle of last season. Though Max Verstappen still won his fourth straight world title, he managed to win only two of the last 14 races of that season.

This shows how Red Bull Racing’s performance dropped, which worried the team bosses. They were no longer as strong as before, and rivals like McLaren and Mercedes started to catch up.

2. Allegations Against Christian Horner

Seventeen months ago, Christian Horner was accused by a female employee of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour. These were very serious allegations. Horner was investigated twice by Red Bull GmbH, and both times he was cleared of the claims. However, these allegations created internal disputes and tensions within the team.

It is believed that these problems, along with the team’s poor performance, made the bosses at Red Bull decide that it was time to sack Horner and bring in someone new to lead the team.

Red Bull’s Official Statement

In their official statement, Red Bull GmbH said: “Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today and has appointed Laurent Mekies as CEO of Red Bull Racing.”

Oliver Mintzlaff, who is the chief executive of corporate projects and investments at Red Bull, also gave a statement. He thanked Christian Horner for his work over the past 20 years.

He said: “We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years. With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise, 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 forever remain an important part of our team history.”

These words show that even though Horner has been removed, the company still respects what he has done for the team in the past two decades.

Who is Laurent Mekies?

Laurent Mekies is now the new CEO of Red Bull Racing. He will take over the job of leading the team. Mekies is a respected figure in Formula 1. He has worked in top teams before and has a lot of experience. It is now his responsibility to help Red Bull Racing return to winning form and keep them at the top of Formula 1.

What Does This Mean for Max Verstappen?

The sacking of Horner has also created doubts about the future of Max Verstappen with Red Bull Racing. Verstappen has won the last four world titles with Red Bull and is one of their star drivers.

He is under contract with Red Bull until 2028. However, there are reports that Mercedes is trying to convince him to join their team for the next season. If Verstappen leaves, it will be a huge loss for Red Bull Racing, as he is their main champion and has brought them great success.

The Legacy of Christian Horner

Christian Horner will always be remembered as the man who made Red Bull Racing a champion team. When he joined in 2005, Red Bull was new and had no big wins. But under his leadership:

• Red Bull won eight Drivers' Championships.

• They won six Constructors' Championships.

• They became one of the most famous and successful Formula 1 teams in the world.

Even though he is leaving in a controversial way, his work over the past 20 years has built a strong foundation for Red Bull Racing.

What Happens Next for Red Bull Racing?

Now, with Laurent Mekies as the new CEO, Red Bull Racing will try to regain its winning form. They need to improve their performance to beat teams like McLaren and Mercedes again.

At the same time, they will try to make sure that Max Verstappen stays with them. Keeping their star driver is very important if they want to win more championships in the coming years.

Christian Horner’s sacking marks the end of an era for Red Bull Racing. After 20 years of leading the team to great success, his time has come to an unexpected end due to declining team performance and past allegations, even though he was cleared. Now, Red Bull Racing enters a new chapter under Laurent Mekies. Fans will wait and watch to see if the team can return to its old glory and continue to rule the Formula 1 tracks in the coming seasons.