Red Bull sacks Christian Horner after 20 years, one year on from sex texts scandal
Red Bull has sacked Christian Horner after 20 years, one year on from sex texts scandal.
A statement from Red Bull GmbH said: "Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today (9 July) and has appointed Laurent Mekies as CEO of Red Bull Racing.”
It was reported earlier this morning that the energy drink company's management was negotiating with Horner about terminating his contract.
The former racing driver has served as team principle and CEO of Red Bull Racing in the Formula One since 2005.
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Dutch journalist Erik van Haren wrote on social media: "The bomb has dropped at Red Bull Racing. Team boss and CEO Christian Horner has been sacked after more than 20 years. Staff in Milton Keynes have just been informed."
Red Bull Group CEO Oliver Mintzlaff said: “We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years.
“With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula One. Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history.”
In the 2025 season so far, the team have endured a pretty tough campaign with a driver change early on and it's been a troubling year and a half for Horner both on and off the race track.
And while Red Bull trails behind the likes of Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes, the future of star Max Verstappen continues to be discussed in the media, despite being under contract until 2028. His father, Jos, claimed in Bahrain last year that Red Bull would 'explode' if Horner remained in his role.
The four-time world champion has only won of the 12 races staged this season, finishing fifth in Sunday's British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Horner's dismissal comes 17 months after he was accused by a female colleague of 'inappropriate behaviour'. The 51-year-old was twice exonerated of the claims by the Formula One team’s parent company, Red Bull GmBH.
Married to former Spice Girl Geri, the ex F1 boss has always denied the allegations against him.
An appeal against the initial investigation of Horner was thrown out last August as Red Bull added that 'its internal process has concluded'.
Within 24 hours of the grievance initially being dismissed in the February, hundreds of WhatsApp messages and a number of images allegedly exchanged between Horner and the woman who complained were leaked.
While he was cleared, he lost a number of key figures at Red Bull.
Jess Battison