Red Bull sack team principal Horner

Christian Horner has been sacked by Red Bull after 20 years as team principal.

The 51-year-old has been in charge of the Formula 1 team since its inception in 2005, leading them to eight drivers’ championship and six constructors’ championship titles.

The dismissal follows months of declining form for the team and internal disputes at the highest level. It also comes 17 months after Horner was accused of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour by a female employee.

Horner was twice cleared of the claims by the team’s parent company, Red Bull GmBH.

“Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Englishman will be replaced as team principal and chief executive of Red Bull Racing by Laurent Mekies, who has been promoted from second team Racing Bulls.

The 48-year-old Frenchman had been in the role since the start of the 2024 season and was previously racing director for Ferrari.

Englishman Alan Permane, 58, has been promoted to team principal of Racing Bulls from his position as racing director.

Under Horner, Sebastian Vettel won the drivers’ championship from 2010-2013, with Max Verstappen winning the past four titles.

“We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years,” added Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s chief executive of corporate projects and investments.

“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.”

Horner’s dismissal comes amid uncertainty about the future of star driver Verstappen, 27.

The four-time world champion is under contract to Red Bull until 2028 but is being courted by Mercedes to potentially join them for next season.

Red Bull have won only two races this season, with McLaren taking over their position as the team to beat.

Their decline began in the middle of last season; while Verstappen won his fourth straight world title, he won only twice in the final 14 races.

Verstappen has been unsettled by the internal battles at Red Bull – he likes to work in quiet and harmony.

And his father Jos has had a tense relationship with Horner. He warned in the wake of the sexual harassment allegations that the team would fall apart if Horner stayed in his role.

Red Bull have also lost two key senior personnel in the past 15 months.

Adrian Newey, regarded as the greatest designer in F1 history, resigned last year.

The accusations against Horner were a central part of his reasons for leaving, along with his dissatisfaction with the team, which he saw as other staff members trying to claim credit for what were his innovations.

Horner actively diminished Newey’s role in briefings to the media as he tried to keep a lid on the internal politics.

Jonathan Wheatley, Red Bull’s long-time sporting director, left the team at the end of last season and is now team principal at Sauber.

Head of strategy Will Courtenay has also resigned and is to join McLaren as sporting director, although Horner has been holding him to his contract.