Former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner reportedly received more than €133 million in salary and severance payments following his departure from the Formula 1 team, according to financial figures reported by RacingNews365.
The extraordinary figure comes after McLaren CEO Zak Brown’s reported €98 million earnings for 2025 drew attention to the huge sums being paid at the top of Formula 1.
While Brown’s remuneration was linked to a highly successful year for McLaren, Horner’s figure is even more striking because a substantial portion came after Red Bull decided to end his 20-year spell with the organisation.
Horner’s Red Bull departure came with a huge price tag
Horner was removed from his position as Red Bull Racing team principal in 2025 after two decades at the helm of the team.
However, he reportedly still had a contract running until 2030, meaning Red Bull had significant financial obligations to meet following the decision to part ways.
According to RacingNews365, Horner’s severance package amounted to €117.56 million.
Red Bull Racing reportedly covered €39.19 million of that amount, while Red Bull Technology was responsible for a further €78.38 million.
That figure alone would rank among the most remarkable payouts associated with a Formula 1 team executive.
Horner also received his regular salary
The financial impact did not end with the severance payment.
According to the figures reported, Horner continued to receive his contractual remuneration before his departure. His salary from Red Bull Racing was approximately €5.2 million, while a further €10.56 million was paid through Red Bull Technology.
Combined with the reported severance, that puts the total at more than €133 million.
The scale of the figure becomes even clearer when compared with Brown’s reported €98 million package for 2025.
Brown remains at McLaren after helping oversee the team’s transformation into a championship-winning operation, whereas Horner’s enormous payout was largely connected to the termination of his long-running Red Bull agreement.
Horner built Red Bull into a Formula 1 powerhouse
Horner joined Red Bull Racing in 2005, becoming the longest-serving team principal on the Formula 1 grid before his departure.
During his tenure, Red Bull became one of the dominant forces of the modern era.
The team won six constructors’ championships under Horner, while Red Bull drivers claimed eight world championships during his time in charge.
Those successes included Sebastian Vettel’s four consecutive titles between 2010 and 2013 and Max Verstappen’s four championships between 2021 and 2024.
Horner’s departure therefore marked the end of one of the longest and most successful leadership periods in recent Formula 1 history.
Horner has not ruled out an F1 return
Laurent Mekies subsequently took over as Red Bull Racing team principal, while Horner has indicated that he remains open to returning to Formula 1.
The former Red Bull boss has previously suggested that a future return could involve taking a stake in a team rather than simply returning to another team principal role.
Given the financial scale of his reported Red Bull settlement, however, there is certainly no immediate financial pressure forcing Horner back into the paddock.
More than €133 million would make for a rather comfortable retirement fund — even if Horner eventually decides that his Formula 1 career is not quite finished.
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. 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.
Alex Stanton is a Formula 1 journalist at TJ13 with a focus on the financial and commercial dynamics that underpin the sport. Alex contributes reporting and analysis on team ownership structures, sponsorship trends, and the evolving business model of Formula 1.
At TJ13, Alex covers topics including manufacturer investment, cost cap implications, and the strategic direction of teams navigating an increasingly complex financial environment. Alex’s work often examines how commercial decisions translate into on-track performance and long-term competitiveness.
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Even the base figure is more than Eurojackpot’s cap, albeit all these are lower than the EuroMillions equivalent.
If only I’d receive even 100 million or double-digit million euros for losing my job.