Christian Horner has formally left the Red Bull Formula One team with what is understood to be an £80m settlement after his dismissal in July as team principal.
Horner was relieved of “operational duties” by the team’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, shortly after the British Grand Prix, concluding more than 18 months of turmoil.
The statement on Monday, issued by Red Bull and Horner, officially marks the end of the 51-year-old’s career with the team which he had led for 20 years since its first season in 2005. He had a contract with Red Bull until 2030. The team’s parent company, as is normal in such cases, has not confirmed any figures.
The announcement was made the day after Red Bull secured their second consecutive victory under Horner’s replacement, Laurent Mekies, at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Horner led Red Bull from the relatively humble beginnings of what had been the Jaguar team to extraordinary success, with eight drivers’ and six constructors’ titles. But his final year and a half in charge was marked by controversy and a decline in the team’s form.
At the start of 2024, accusations of inappropriate behaviour were made by an employee against Horner – he was cleared by an investigation – and caused no little unrest within the team. That was followed by the loss of a number of key personnel, including the enormously successful designer, Adrian Newey, the sporting director, Jonathan Wheatley, and the head of strategy, Will Courtenay.
Although Max Verstappen went on to win the title, their car was increasingly off the pace and there was open dissent against Horner from Verstappen’s father, Jos, who had called for him to be removed amid a power struggle between the principal and Red Bull’s parent company.
Fears that Verstappen might leave the team, with the car proving to be even further off the pace this season, are believed to have played a central part in Horner’s dismissal, which was orchestrated by Red Bull GmbH’s chief executive officer of corporate projects and investments, Oliver Mintzlaff.
It is reported the agreement will allow Horner to return to work in F1 as early as next spring although Red Bull have not confirmed this. He is believed to want to return to the sport as soon as possible.
Before he was sacked Horner was understood to have been of interest for a move to Ferrari but they have since extended the contract of the team principal, Fred Vasseur.
Cadillac, who will enter F1 next season, have already ruled out Horner, but he has been linked to a potential consortium looking into buying the Alpine team; he is close friends with Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive advisor. However Alpine’s parent company, Renault, has repeatedly dismissed suggestions the team is for sale.
“Leading Red Bull Racing has been an honour and privilege,” Horner’s statement read. “When we started in 2005, none of us could have imagined the journey ahead – the championships, the races, the people, the memories. I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved as a team breaking records and reaching heights no one would ever believe were possible and I will forever carry that with me.”
