The Formula One team has announced that Red Bull have fired Christian Horner as team principal and appointed Laurent Mekies as their replacement.
The 51-year-old Horner served as the team’s longest-serving principal since 2005 when Red Bull made its Formula One debut.
Mekies joins Racing Bulls, a sister brand of Red Bull. The Racing Bulls team principal will be promoted to Alan Permane, who is currently the racing director.
The Milton Keynes-based team announced on Wednesday that Red Bull has appointed Laurent Mekies as CEO of Red Bull Racing and that Christian Horner has been removed from his operational duties as of today (Wednesday, July 9, 2025).
Under Horner, Red Bull struggled this year, finishing fourth in the constructors’ standings with 172 points. The team won eight Drivers’ World Championships and six Constructors’ Championships. They are 288 points ahead of McLaren’s.
Max Verstappen, a four-time Formula One champion, is third in the drivers’ championship and has won two of his 12 races for Red Bull. In the middle of the 24-round season, he is 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.
Following allegations of misconduct by a female employee, Horner’s position was questioned, with Verstappen’s father calling last year for him to leave. After an investigation, the Briton found not to be guilty.
“It has been a fantastic adventure to work with all of our talented people to bring about the birth of Racing Bulls.” The team’s spirit is incredible, and I think this is just the start, Mekies said.
“Alan is the ideal person to lead us now and advance our agenda.” He has always been a key player in our early successes and knows the team inside out.
Source: Aljazeera
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