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FORMULA 1: Red Bull Shock – Christian Horner Fired After 20 Years

Milton Keynes, July 9, 2025 – A shocking news story shook the world of Formula 1 this morning: Christian Horner has been fired from Red Bull Racing with immediate effect after twenty years at the helm of the Milton Keynes-based team. The decision marks the end of an era for one of the most successful teams in recent Formula 1 history.

The official announcement

The announcement of Horner's dismissal reportedly came on the morning of July 9, 2025, with the contract terminated with immediate effect. According to some reports, the British manager had already said goodbye to team members at the Milton Keynes headquarters at 10 AM this morning.

Red Bull officially stated that it has “relieved Christian Horner from his operational duties as of today and has appointed Laurent Mekies as CEO of Red Bull Racing.”

The successor: Laurent Mekies

Horner’s replacement will be Laurent Mekies, current team principal of Racing Bulls and former Ferrari official. Mekies, ex-sporting director at Ferrari, will now take on the role of CEO of Red Bull Racing, thus assuming the dual responsibility previously held by Horner.

The reasons for the dismissal

The decision reportedly came after months of internal tension and declining results. Several factors contributed to this historic change:

The 2024 scandal: Horner was involved in a media case concerning alleged inappropriate behavior towards a female employee. Although two internal investigations cleared him, the case left a mark.

Power concentration: An excessive concentration of power in Horner’s hands, frowned upon by Red Bull's upper management.

Tensions with Verstappen: According to rumors, Max Verstappen was among the most dissatisfied with the current technical and organizational direction of the team.

Loss of trust: The support of Thai shareholders – which secured Horner a contract worth around £12 million a year – seems to have vanished.

The end of a successful era

Christian Horner joined Red Bull in 2005 at the age of just 31, becoming the youngest team principal in Formula 1 history. Under his leadership, Red Bull became one of the most successful teams in F1 history, with six constructors’ championships (the last in 2023) and eight drivers’ titles, thanks first to Sebastian Vettel and then Max Verstappen.

Since its debut, Red Bull has competed in 405 Grands Prix, collecting 6 constructors' titles and 8 drivers' championships under Horner’s leadership.

Immediate consequences

The dismissal comes at a sensitive time for Red Bull, following several key departures from the Milton Keynes operation (notably genius designer Adrian Newey), and the performance drop of the current car, which has already led Max Verstappen to declare himself out of the title race halfway through the season.

Rumors from the paddock also suggest Horner may join Ferrari starting in 2026, replacing Frédéric Vasseur, whose contract expires at the end of 2025.

The future of Red Bull

With the arrival of Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing now faces a critical transition. The departure of Adrian Newey, car performance issues, and rumors of Verstappen leaving have all intensified the crisis.

The decision to fire Horner marks a major turning point for the Anglo-Austrian team, which must now prove it can remain competitive without the man who led it through two decades of success.

This story is developing
 

https://www.redbullracing.com/int-en