Christian Horner fired. After 20 years at the top of Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner has been officially fired as F1 team principal, marking a major shift in the Formula 1 world. The decision, confirmed by Red Bull on Wednesday, ends Horner’s legendary reign that began when the team entered F1 in 2005.
Christian Horner fired by Red Bull Racing after two decades as team principal, following internal conflicts, performance decline, and past harassment allegations.
During his tenure, Horner led Red Bull to eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ titles, overseeing dominant eras with both Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
The news of Christian Horner being fired comes after months of poor team performance and internal power struggles, including long-running controversy over sexual harassment allegation raised in 2024 by a female employee. Although Red Bull GmbH cleared Horner twice, the matter reportedly caused ongoing tensions within the company.
“Christian Horner has been fired effective immediately,” said Red Bull in a statement. “We thank him for his two decades of tireless work.”
Red Bull has now appointed Laurent Mekies as CEO of Red Bull Racing.
This leadership shakeup arrives amid growing concerns about Red Bull’s form. The team has won only two races this season, while McLaren has taken over as the dominant force on the grid. Despite Max Verstappen holding a contract through 2028, rumors of a switch to Mercedes have intensified.
While Cristian Horner being fired shocked many fans, Red Bull insisted the move was part of a broader restructure for future performance.
Oliver Mintzlaff Said :
“Thank you, Christian, for everything. Your legacy will remain, but it is time to evolve,” he said.
It remains to be seen how Red Bull Racing will adapt to his drastic leadership change, and whether Christian Horner’s firing could spark more shift across the paddock.
