Christian Horner dismissed as Red Bull team principal after 20 years
- Christian Horner was dismissed as Red Bull Racing's team principal and F1 CEO after two decades of leadership.
- During his tenure, he led Red Bull to significant success but faced challenges, including breaches of regulations and personal allegations.
- Zak Brown comments that while the timing was surprising, the dismissal itself was not, given the recent issues in the team.
In early July 2025, Christian Horner was dismissed from his position as team principal and F1 CEO at Red Bull Racing, ending a notable 20-year tenure marked by significant successes. During his leadership, Horner oversaw Red Bull's dominance in Formula One, securing six Constructors' Championships and eight Drivers' Championships. However, over the past 18 months, the team faced various challenges, including a breach of the cost cap in 2021 and allegations of inappropriate behavior against Horner, which he denied and was cleared of twice. The combination of internal and external pressures may have contributed to the decision to part ways with him at this critical juncture in the season. Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren, expressed that while he was surprised by the timing of Horner's sacking, the result was not unexpected given the ongoing drama within the team. Following Horner's departure, Laurent Mekies, a former team principal of Racing Bulls, has taken on the role. His appointment suggests a shift towards a more technical and less confrontational approach in contrast to Horner’s style of engaging in media rivalries. This transition comes as Red Bull aims to regain its competitive edge amidst increasing scrutiny and speculation about the future direction of the team and its star driver, Max Verstappen, who is considering his contract situation.