Red Bull Sacks Christian Horner After 20 Years

“Christian Horner and Laurent Mekies in split image, symbolizing Red Bull team principal change in 2025.”

In a major shake-up that’s reverberating through the Formula 1 paddock, Red Bull Racing has officially dismissed team principal Christian Horner after 20 years of leadership. The announcement follows the fallout from the 2025 British Grand Prix, where internal tensions reportedly reached a boiling point.

This marks the end of a historic era for Red Bull and the beginning of a new chapter under Laurent Mekies, who has been appointed as the new team principal with immediate effect.

Christian Horner: The Legacy of a Champion

Christian Horner joined Red Bull Racing in 2005 and became the longest-serving team principal in F1 history. Under his command, Red Bull evolved from a mid-tier experiment into one of the most dominant forces in motorsport.

Christian Horner speaks to media during a Red Bull Racing press conference before his dismissal

Achievements Under Horner:

6 Drivers’ Championships (4 with Sebastian Vettel, 2 with Max Verstappen)
5 Constructors’ Titles
Over 100 race wins
Built a high-performance culture around innovation, speed, and star drivers

Yet despite his successes, Horner’s final season has been marred by strategic blunders, internal disputes, and rumors of conflict between top-level executives.

Why Was Horner Let Go?

The 2025 British Grand Prix appears to have been the tipping point. Red Bull entered the weekend as favorites but endured one of their worst strategic outings of the season. A combination of pit stop mismanagement and poor tire decisions cost valuable points and highlighted deeper team issues.

Key Factors Leading to Departure:

Strategic failures at Silverstone
Reported friction with senior advisors
Changing leadership dynamics within Red Bull’s parent organization

Laurent Mekies Takes the Helm

To stabilize the team and chart a new path forward, Red Bull has brought in Laurent Mekies—a respected figure with experience at both Ferrari and Visa Cash App RB (formerly AlphaTauri). Known for his engineering mindset and calm leadership, Mekies is expected to bring both discipline and innovation to a team in transition.

Red Bull Racing garage under tension during the 2025 British Grand Prix weekend.

What Mekies Brings:

Former deputy team principal at Ferrari
Technical background and FIA experience
Familiarity with Red Bull Racing’s internal ecosystem
A future-facing approach ahead of the 2026 regulation overhaul

I’m honored to lead this incredible team. Christian built a legacy. My role is to evolve it and ensure Red Bull remains a force in Formula 1,” Mekies said.

Laurent Mekies in Ferrari team uniform before appointment as Red Bull team principal.

What This Means for Verstappen and Red Bull’s 2025 Season

Max Verstappen was reportedly notified of the decision ahead of the announcement. Though the Dutch driver has remained silent, Horner had been a key figure in his rise to F1 stardom. The team must now work swiftly to maintain morale and championship focus.

Challenges Ahead:

Sustaining momentum in the title race
Transitioning leadership mid-season
Preparing for 2026 regulations without Horner’s influence

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Final Thoughts

The sacking of Christian Horner after two decades is more than a leadership change — it’s a signal that even the most successful organizations are not immune to internal reshuffles. Red Bull must now prove that its dominance wasn’t tied to a single man, but to a culture that can evolve, adapt, and win again.

Max Verstappen and Christian Horner in discussion during a 2025 F1 race weekend.

The eyes of the F1 world will be fixed on Laurent Mekies, and whether he can keep the wheels turning — literally and figuratively — through the rest of 2025.