Formula 1 earthquake! Red Bull fires team boss Horner, successor likely already announced
An earthquake in Formula 1! According to media reports, the Red Bull racing team led by serial world champion Max Verstappen is parting ways with team boss Christian Horner with immediate effect. The Briton has been under sharp criticism for some time.
This is a bombshell in Formula 1! According to "Bild," Red Bull is currently negotiating with team boss Christian Horner about terminating his contract—the Briton and superstar Max Verstappen's racing team will go their separate ways.
Horner is expected to say goodbye to the employees at the factory in Milton Keynes, England, around 11 a.m. German time today.
The contract would be valid until the end of 2030. It is currently unknown how the racing team and Horner will agree on terminating the contract.
Horner was most recently the sole executive of the successful Formula 1 team. As team principal, he also headed the technical and engine departments, as well as the marketing department.
According to Bild, Frenchman Laurent Mekies will take over the responsibilities in the future. The 48-year-old was previously team principal of Racing Bull, Red Bull's sister team.
According to "Bild," the main driver behind this decision is Oliver Mintzlaff. The sports boss of the Red Bull Group, which also owns Bundesliga club RB Leipzig, is said to have already informed the owners Chalerm Yoovidhya and Mark Mateschitz, as well as motorsport boss Dr. Helmut Marko.
Horner has been under heavy criticism for some time. On the one hand, the team is in a deep sporting crisis. Last year, despite Verstappen's world championship title, the racing team failed to secure the constructors' championship, finishing only third.
This season, the Red Bull is mostly lagging behind, ranking fourth in the overall standings behind McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.
This also leads to great frustration for Verstappen. Although the Dutchman is still getting the most out of his car, he has little chance of defending his title against McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Rumors of an early departure have been circulating for some time. Verstappen's contract runs until the end of 2028, but he has an exit clause. Mercedes is said to be tempting him. The Dutchman has recently avoided committing to the Austrian racing team.
Secondly, Horner is still embroiled in last year's scandal. The team boss was accused of "over-the-top behavior" by his assistant. The case will go to court in early 2026, so there's a risk of further unrest.
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