Ex-F1 Champion Warns Red Bull After Brutal Christian Horner Axe

Former F1 world champion Damon Hill raised concerns over Red Bull's decision to sack Christian Horner.

Ex-F1 Champion Warns Red Bull After Brutal Christian Horner Axe

Damon Hill (via The Independent) and Christian Horner (via the BBC)

Red Bull Racing will no longer be led by Christian Horner. After 20 years as team principal, the 51-year-old has finally been sacked by Milton Keynes. This announcement has shocked fans and critics alike, as the Austrian giant hopes to enter a new era with an overhauled leadership structure. However, former F1 champion Damon Hill has warned the energy drinks giant that things will not be easy going forward.

Christian Horner was the longest serving team principal on the grid, having joined Red Bull in 2005 when the squad was just starting its operations. In the past two decades, he was instrumental in every aspect of the team, including its expansion in Milton Keynes. Horner had built the team from scratch and achieved incredible success, with 8 drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championships.

Damon Hill pointed out that Horner was a strong leader who enjoyed immense support from the entire crew. This was evident as the team members applauded the 51-year-old after his emotional farewell speech on Wednesday. The former F1 champion was skeptical whether Christian Horner’s replacement, Laurent Mekies would be able to fill this void.

CH enjoyed massive support from the team he built. I really doubt if a replacement will be able to fill those boots.

Damon Hill wrote on X

Moreover, Hill warned Milton Keynes that this might not be the start of a new era that the team hoped for. He pointed out that a ‘Palace Coup’ rarely goes well, hinting that Red Bull might be risking its collapse with Horner’s exit.

This might not be the great new beginning some are hoping for. A Palace Coup rarely has good outcomes. But it will be a huge story for F1, seeing how this goes.

Damon Hill stated

Christian Horner clueless on reason behind Red Bull sacking

Red Bull informed Christian Horner about his departure on Tuesday, a day before he gave the speech at Milton Keynes. The 51-year-old informed his crew that he will no longer continue his services for the team, but will continue to be employed by Red Bull. However, it appears that the Briton was not given a reason for his sacking.

Christian Horner
Christian Horner (via Reuters)

F1 Presenter Martin Brundle revealed that he tried to get in touch with Horner after the news broke. While he was unable to have a proper conversation, Christan Horner claimed that he had not been given a reason for his release from the team. It is surprising that the energy drinks giant did not give a proper explanation for such a massive decision. Though, the tensions within the team and the downturn in performance were the likely trigger.

I said to him [Christian Horner], ‘Can we have a chat before I have to go on TV’, because I want to know more about it from his point of view, and wasn’t able to do that. What he did say to me was no reason was given to him as to why he’s been released. So that’s the only information I have on that.

Martin Brundle told Sky Sports F1

Christian Horner’s exit is undoubtedly a sad day for Red Bull fans. No matter the off-track controversies in the past year, the Briton created an F1 powerhouse under his leadership. It remains to be seen if Horner decides to take some time off from the sport or join a rival team soon.

Read More: 3 Reasons Why Red Bull Sacking Christian Horner Makes Perfect Sense