Formula 1 News: Red Bull has sacked their F1 Team boss Horner (Update)
“We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years,” said Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff in an official statement.
“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 1.
“Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history.”
Hours after the news first broke, Red Bull also took to social media to thank Horner in an official capacity.
After 20 years with the Team, Christian Horner departs Oracle Red Bull Racing as Team Principal and CEO.
We thank him for his tireless and exceptional work. He has been instrumental in building this Team into one of the most successful in F1, with eight Drivers’ Championships… pic.twitter.com/9SyqjSBvEG
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) July 9, 2025
Oracle Red Bull Team Statement
Oracle Red Bull Racing is pleased to confirm that Laurent Mekies has been appointed to the role of CEO and Team Principal of the Team with immediate effect.
Looking after all Formula One operational duties, Laurent joins Oracle Red Bull Racing from Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, where he has held the position of Team Principal since 2024.
Laurent Mekies, CEO and Team Principal said: “Over the last year and a half it has been an absolute privilege to lead Visa Cash App Racing Bulls and I would like to thank all of our talented people both in Faenza and Milton Keynes. Looking to the future, I am excited to be taking on the role of CEO and Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, one of the most successful and dynamic teams in the sport. It’s an honor to be part of this group of brilliant people that embody the Red Bull spirit. Together we will achieve great results, building on the incredible legacy left by Christian Horner during his two decades in charge.”
Oliver Minztlaff, CEO Corporate Projects and Investments 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, you will forever remain an important part of our Team history. And of course, welcome Laurent, we wish you all the best in this new venture.”
Christina Horner Statement
July 9, 2025
BREAKING NEWS: Red Bull has fired their F1 team boss Christian Horner after all their top engineers left for other teams and Horner just let them go without a fight. The result is their car is a real dog, and even the best driver in the history of F1, Max Verstappen, cannot win with it.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
Laurent Mekies has been appointed CEO of Red Bull Racing, replacing Horner.
Laurent Mekies said: “The last year and a half has been an absolute privilege to lead the team with Peter. It has been an amazing adventure to contribute to the birth of Racing Bulls together with all our talented people. The spirit of the whole team is incredible, and I strongly believe that this is just the beginning. Alan Permane is the perfect man to take over the Racing Bulls team and continue our path. He knows the team inside out and has always been an important pillar of our early successes.”
This is a terrible time to sack Christian Horner. Mid-season, with the major regulation changes coming in 2026, the timing couldn’t be worse. If you’re going to do it, do it at the beginning or end of a season, not now.
Horner led Red Bull to two dominant periods, first with Sebastian Vettel winning four straight titles from 2010 to 2013 and most recently with Max Verstappen doing the same from 2021 to 2024.
However, it has been overhauled by McLaren as the team to beat across 2024 and 2025 because Horner let Rob Marshall (the best designer in F1) get away to McLaren. And since the passing of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in late 2022, Horner’s reign as team boss has been increasingly criticized.
There has been a growing internal division between Horner and significant people around Verstappen, including Max’s father, Jos, and Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.
In addition to that power struggle, Horner has watched key personnel like technical guru Rob Marshall, Adrian Newey and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley leave.
“We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years,” a statement from Red Bull CEO of Corporate Projects and Investments Oliver Mintzlaff said.
“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 1.
“Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history.”
Alan Permane said: “I feel very honored to take on the role as Team Principal of Racing Bulls (Red Bull ‘B’ Team) and would like to thank Oliver and Helmut for the trust they have shown in me. I am looking forward to working with Peter to continue the good work that both him and Laurent have done in taking this team forward. This is a new challenge for me, but I know that I can count on the support of everyone within them.”
If Max Verstappen now leaves Red Bull Racing, as rumored, the once dominant Red Bull team will essentially have been completely dismantled.
Max Verstappen’s manager statement regarding the Horner sacking “We were informed in advance about this decision by Red Bull management. It’s up to RedBull to expand on why they did this. We continue to focus on the sporting side and are looking for more performance so we can return to the top. In that sense, nothing changes.”
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