Red Bull sack team principal Horner

After 20 years as the team’s principal, Christian Horner was fired by Red Bull.

The Formula 1 team has won eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ championships under the leadership of the 51-year-old since its inception in 2005.

The team’s performance has been declining for months, and there have been internal disagreements at the highest level. Additionally, Horner was charged with sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behavior by a female employee 17 months prior.

Horner’s allegations were seconded cleared by an independent lawyer after an internal investigation and a second independent lawyer, who dismissed the complainant’s appeal.

Christian Horner’s operational duties have been removed from effect from today, according to a statement from Red Bull GmBH, the team’s parent company.

Laurent Mekies, who has been promoted from the second team Racing Bulls, will take over as the Englishman’s team principal and chief executive of Red Bull Racing.

The 48-year-old Frenchman, who was previously the race director for Ferrari, had been in the position since the start of the 2024 season.

Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen both won the drivers’ championship under the direction of Horner from 2010 to 2013.

Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s corporate projects and investments chief executive, thanked Christian Horner for his outstanding work over the past 20 years.

He has contributed significantly to Red Bull Racing becoming one of the most popular and attractive Formula 1 teams thanks to his unwavering commitment, experience, expertise, and thought-provoking thinking.

Christian, I appreciate everything you have done for our team, and you will always be a significant part of it forever.

The 27-year-old star driver Verstappen’s future is uncertain with Horner’s dismissal.

The four-time world champion is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, but Mercedes may want to work with them until the following year.

McLaren has taken over as the team’s leader after winning only two races this year, leaving Red Bull with just two.

Verstappen enjoys working in harmony and quiet despite the internal conflict at Red Bull.

Additionally, Horner’s father Jos has a tense relationship with him. He warned that if Horner remained in his position, the team would disintegrate in the wake of the allegations of sexual harassment.

In the last 15 months, Red Bull have also lost two key senior executives.

Adrian Newey, regarded as the best designer in Formula One history, left last year.

He saw his dissatisfaction with the team as other staff members trying to take credit for what were his innovations, and the accusations against him were a significant part of why he left.

In an effort to keep the internal politics at bay, Horner actively reduced Newey’s involvement in press briefings.

At the end of last year, Red Bull’s long-standing sporting director, Jonathan Wheatley, left the team and is now Sauber’s team principal.

BBC F1 reporter Jennie Gow:

Max Verstappen chose to stay at Red Bull over Christian Horner and his lack of experience, according to the discussion in the paddock, which was certainly present last weekend.

“My phone has been ejected, and friends and paddock residents have been saying the same thing, “Do you mean to protect Max from leaving Red Bull, or is this because he’s already done that, and this is the result of that?”” they asked.

“I don’t know,” I ask. At Silverstone over the weekend, I attempted to ask Max. He would not deny that he was looking around, even though he had none of it. He wouldn’t claim to be completely committed to Red Bull.

What does he do next? He wants to win another championship despite only having won twice this year. He must choose the best path to the right car.