Last Updated on July 9 2025, 11:01 am
Christie Horner who was recruited over twenty years ago to build the Red Bull Racing dynasty from the ashes of the Jaguar F1 programme will today say his farewell to the staff in Milton Keynes this morning. Just over a year after he was cleared of “inappropriate behaviour” in a testing scandal with a female employee, the Red Bull boss will leaves role as team principal with immediate effect.
Horner is one of the most successful F1 team bosses in history having guided the team to six constructor championships together with four driver titles each for Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. Having survived the storm of calls for his resignation in 2024, Horner appeared to crucially have the solid support of the energy drinks empires majority shareholder, Chelerm Voovidhya who overruled the Austrian directors of the Red Bull parent company in 2024 when they called for him to be replaced.
Rumours that Max Verstappen will activate an escape clause in his contract and leave Red Bull at the end of the 2025 season have repeatedly surfaced, something Horner has continually denied each race weekend and while no particular reason has been given for Christian’s sacking, the loss of Red Bull’s star driver could well be behind today’s breaking news.
CEO acts without majority shareholder permission?
Horner will leave his £12m a year role with immediate effect and negotiations are on going over the terms of his departure although the Red Bull boss is reported to have told the staff at Milton Keynes at 10am (BST) on Wednesday 9th July 2025.
The source of the breaking news is German publication Bild, who claim Oliver Mintzlaff, the CEO of the Red Bull group was the ultimate decision maker wh has informed Dr. Helmut Marko and majority shareholder Chelerm Voovidhya. During the trial by media Horner suffered in 2024, the Thai born businessman had backed the Red Bull team boss whilst Mintzlaff was attempting to oust him from his position.
Company law allows the shareholders to appoint directors of a business who may then act with executive power even in opposition of the shareholders wishes. Mintzlaff has a legal duty of care for the company he runs and may have executed his authority without the permission of the Thai majority shareholder. Of course as owner of the company, Chalerm Voovidhya can scathe directors of the board were he to feel they were not acting in the companies interest.
Laurent Mekies new Red Bull boss
Sky news have just reported that the Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies has been appointed as the CEO of Red Bull Racing and that Oliver Mintzlaff has now released a statement thanking Horner for the years of dedication to the team. “We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years.”
“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.”
Red bull have suffered the loss of a number of high profile and long standing team members in recent times, with Rob Marshal leaving to join McLaren, Jonathan Wheatley to Sauber-Audi and guru race car designer Adrian Newey was lured away by Aston Martin’s Lawrence Stroll with equity in the team and a £30m pay check a year.
FIA president calls for single F1 fuel supplier
Verstappen leaving linked to Horner dismissal?
Paddock rumours have suggested Horner survived last year’s attempted coup vy assuring the Thai majority shareholder that Max Verstappen would remain with the Red Bull team for the remainder of his contract which runs to the end of 2028. Whilst there is no news on the Dutch drivers future intentions, him leaving the team for Mercedes may have been the body blow Horner could not survive.
With hindsight it appears Christian Horner was allowed to remain in charge for the teams home Grand Prix in Silverstone last weekend, where Max Verstappen claimed a thrilling pole position but lost control of his car in the wet race on Sunday and finished just fifth. Max has claimed the last four consecutive drivers’ titles since his epic duel with Hamilton back in 2021 but languishes some 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.
Red Bull are in their worst position in the constructor championship since 2015 when their put-put Renault power train saw them finish the year in fourth place. They sit 288 points behind leaders McLaren with both Mercedes and Ferrari ahead of them too.
More to follow….
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
I think that’s a BAD move by Red Bull! Even if they keep MV for another year or two, he WILL go eventually. CH has been SO successful there: I feel he’s being badly treated by the parent company
BIG mistake! Sad to see him leave 😢
He will be off to manage ferrari
Oh my god.Christian Horner helped Red Bull win championships.What a joke.
I hope Max does leave now.Red Bull are a joke
The board are so shortsighted Christian can now go and do with another team what he did with Red Bull he will raise a team that will challenge