Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Netball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Red Bull Racing axe Christian Horner with immediate effect
Philip Duncan • July 9th, 2025 9:45 pm
Photo: Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
The Formula 1 world has been shocked with the news that Christian Horner has been sacked as Red Bull team principal effective immediately, replaced by Racing Bull principal Laurent Mekies.
Horner's dismissal comes 17 months after he was accused by a female colleague of "inappropriate behaviour".
Horner was twice exonerated of the claims by the Formula One team's parent company, Red Bull GmbH.
But on Wednesday a statement from Red Bull GmbH read: "Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today (Wednesday, July 9, 2025) and has appointed Laurent Mekies as CEO of Red Bull Racing."
As a result of those major changes, Alan Permane has been promoted from racing director to team principal of sister team Racing Bulls.
Horner, 51, had been team principal at Red Bull since 2005, overseeing eight drivers' world championships and six constructors' titles.
However, Red Bull's form has slumped with four-time world champion Max Verstappen having won only two of the 12 races staged this season.
Horner with Verstappen, who has won just twice from 12 races this season | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
Verstappen finished fifth in Sunday's British Grand Prix at Silverstone - a race which would turn out to be Horner's last in charge.
Red Bull Group chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff said: "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 One.
"Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history."
Horner's future has been under the microscope following one of the biggest scandals to engulf F1.
At last year's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, Horner was cleared following an internal investigation into claims of wrongdoing by a female staff member at Red Bull, only for hundreds of WhatsApp messages, appearing to be exchanged between Horner and the complainant, were leaked to the F1 world.
Horner was subjected to boos at F1's launch in London in February | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
Horner, married to former Spice Girls singer Geri Halliwell, fought on and was cleared internally on two occasions, but he lost a number of key figures at Red Bull, with design guru Adrian Newey, chief designer Rob Marshall and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley all departing.
Verstappen's future at Red Bull has also been in the spotlight. His father, Jos, claimed in Bahrain a year ago Red Bull would "explode" if Horner remained in his role.
Verstappen went on to win a fourth consecutive world last year, but, despite being under contract until 2028, he has been linked with a move away.
