Red Bull Sack Christian Horner After 20 Years Amid Max Verstappen exit rumors

Red Bull has finally sacked Christian Horner mid-way the 2025 season as Max Verstappen's Mercedes rumors continue to grow.

Red Bull Sack Christian Horner After 20 Years Amid Max Verstappen exit rumors

Max Verstappen and Christian Horner (via Red Bull Content Pool)

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Red Bull has undergone a challenging phase in recent years. The performance of the team degraded substantially despite a very dominant outing in the 2023 season. Moreover, the team principal, Christian Horner, suffered from some extremely controversial situations in his personal life. Due to the highly unstable state of Milton Keynes, the Englishman was rumored to be sacked from the team. Now, sources suggest that Horner has already been sacked from the team with an official press conference to follow.

Christian Horner‘s alleged sexually transgressive behavior against a female employee started the whole whirlwind of trouble. Horner had been an integral part of Red Bull since the 2005 season, leading the campaign for over two decades. However, in the wake of recent events, the team suffered from a difficult phase, which caused a plethora of crucial figures to lose trust in the team and eventually leave. To make matters worse, the boss was on bad terms with Max Verstappen‘s father, Jos Verstappen, as he could have further forced the team to make the decision.

Adrian Newey left Red Bull to join Aston Martin following the team’s ever-worsening form. Even Jonathan Wheatley left to lead Sauber as they prepare for their transition to Audi. Moreover, rumors had come up about Max Verstappen looking to snub Christian Horner from the team due to the problematic period. Now, sources have confirmed that the 51-year-old is officially out of the team with immediate effect, and his replacement is already ready to lead Red Bull.

Racing Bulls’ current team principal, Laurent Mekies, is all set to lead Red Bull as soon as Horner officially leaves his post. The Brion’s exit has come as a big shock, as he has led the team through some extremely tumultuous stages. However, with a massive overhaul in the leadership roles, the team could finally breathe a wave of fresh air as they hope to come out of the performance slump now.

This news comes at the worst time possible for Red Bull as Max Verstappen is the center of multiple exit rumors. The Dutchman is reportedly considering joining Mercedes in the coming season due to losing faith in the Austrian constructor. However, if Verstappen’s needs are met and they find stability within the team, he could reconsider his decision and continue his career with the same team.

Red Bull parent company speaks up on Christian Horner’s shock exit

Previous sources had declared that Red Bull’s co-owners, Chalerm Yoovidhya and Co., were also losing trust in Christian Horner to lead the constructor in Formula 1. Max Verstappen’s demands to snub the 51-year-old might have been the last straw for the team. However, the energy drink manufacturer’s F1 team boss has issued a heartfelt message as they bid farewell to the leader for the past 20 years.

Christian Horner
Christian Horner (via IMAGO)

Oliver Mintzlaff thanked Christian Horner for his unwavering commitment to Red Bull over the past 20 years. Mintzlaff recalled that due to Horner, the constructor could witness some extremely great glimpses of performance in Formula 1. The exact reason behind the 51-year-old’s axe isn’t released yet, as many more information is to come following the massive news.

We’d like to thank Christian for his exceptional work over the last 20 years. With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing RBR as one of the most successful and attractive teams in F1.

Oliver Mintzlaff said, as reported by @ChrisMedlandF1/X

The 2025 season has been nothing short of a frenzy for Red Bull. Following this massive change, anything can happen within the squad this year. Ex-Red Bull champion Sebastian Vettel was reportedly in talks to join the team and work in a leadership position. Max Verstappen is yet to comment on the matter, but if the Mercedes rumors are true, the Austrian constructor could suffer from an extremely disappointing phase ahead of the 2026 season.

Read More: ‘He Could Be Negotiating,” Helmut Marko Breaks Silence on Max Verstappen Mercedes Rumors