Christian Horner dismissed as Red Bull Racing team principal after two decades

Christian Horner has been removed as Red Bull Racing team principal following internal tensions and loss of authority.

Christian Horner has reportedly been dismissed as team principal of Red Bull Racing, ending his two-decade reign at the helm of one of Formula 1’s most successful teams. According to the Daily Mail, Red Bull staff have been informed, and an official announcement is expected soon.

❗️De bom is gebarsten bij Red Bull Racing. Teambaas en CEO Christian Horner is na ruim 20 jaar weggestuurd.

Personeel in Milton Keynes is zojuist ingelicht. #F1

— Erik van Haren (@ErikvHaren) July 9, 2025

Horner, 51, joined Red Bull in 2005 and led the team through two dominant championship eras—with Sebastian Vettel and later Max Verstappen. Under his leadership, Red Bull secured six Constructors’ Championships and eight Drivers’ Championships, establishing itself as a powerhouse in the sport.

The dismissal comes roughly a year after Horner was twice cleared in internal investigations following allegations of inappropriate behavior, including the sending of explicit messages to a female employee. Though he survived the scandal at the time, reports suggest it weakened his standing within the organization.

Horner’s support from Red Bull’s Thai majority owners, which had previously shielded him, appears to have eroded in recent months. The team’s underperformance and growing dissatisfaction from star driver Max Verstappen reportedly intensified internal pressure. According to Bild, the termination of Horner’s contract is being finalized and will take immediate effect.

He is believed to have said farewell to staff at Red Bull’s Milton Keynes factory earlier Wednesday morning. The decision is said to have been led by Red Bull Group CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, with the backing of Chalerm Yoovidhya, Mark Mateschitz, and motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.

An official statement from Red Bull is expected shortly. The organization is now facing a major leadership transition as it prepares for the remainder of the 2025 season.