Red Bull has sacked team principal Christian Horner following a disappointing 2025 season so far. The 51-year-old spent 20 years at the helm of the Austrian team and will be replaced by Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies.
Horner’s dismissal comes amid speculation of star driver Max Verstappen’s future. The four-time world champion has been linked with a move to Mercedes as a reported exit clause could be activated. With the ongoing rumours of where Verstappen will drive next season, his team has broken the silence over Horner’s sacking.
“Nothing changes” for Max Verstappen following the dismissal of Christian Horner
Max Verstappen is having a difficult season. The Dutchman looks unlikely to be able to defend his current title, despite two victories this season. The four-time world champion currently sits third in the standings, 69 points behind the leader, Oscar Piastri.
There had been reports that Verstappen’s camp had tension with Christian Horner amid internal struggles. Following the Brits’ axing from the Milton Keynes-based outfit, the Dutchman’s team has spoken out.
Max Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, said: “This is a decision Red Bull has made, and we have taken note of it. It is up to Red Bull to share the background information regarding the decision. In Red Bull’s view, this is the best way forward. It is up to the parent company to hire people and make strategic choices. Nothing changes for us.”
“Thank you for everything, Christian!” 🤝
Max Verstappen reacts to the departure of Christian Horner from Red Bull#F1 pic.twitter.com/Em0GK5XL8W
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 9, 2025
Vermeulen also claimed Verstappen was still committed to Red Bull, adding: “We have a contract with Red Bull and are committed, as we have been for eleven years. Our main goal now is to get performance back. And quickly. Max wants to get the most out of the equipment he has at his disposal, but we also realise that the championship is no longer within his reach.”
Horner’s dismissal comes at the halfway point of the season. Red Bull is 288 points behind leaders McLaren, while Verstappen faces an uphill battle to retain his title. Red Bull pulled the plug on the 51-year-old’s tenure and brought in Laurent Mekies. This will give the Frenchman half a season to get accustomed to how Red Bull works and to start getting the team moving in the right direction again.
Why did Red Bull let Christian Horner go?
There is a culmination of possible reasons why Red Bull has let Christian Horner go. The most prominent were the allegations of sexual harassment by a female employee against the 51-year-old. This led to tensions behind the scenes, most notably with Jos Verstappen.
Red Bull has also seen many key figures walk away from the team. Most notably, design legend Adrian Newey left last year to join Aston Martin. This has hampered Red Bull’s ability to create a competitive car, while the upgrade packages haven’t helped gain pace. Another key miss is Jonathan Wheatley, who has now joined Sauber.
The RB21 has been slow this season. Red Bull is currently the fourth fastest team and is unlikely to win any honours this season. The second seat has been a massive problem this term, with two drivers scoring a combined seven points. With all these factors against Horner, Red Bull decided to let him go.
