Christian Horner to get no sympathy from rival after Red Bull sacking – 'He feels same'

Christian Horner has been sacked by Red Bull after two decades in charge, bringing an end to his long and often controversial tenure as team principal. The 51-year-old, who had led the team since its entry into Formula 1 in 2005, was under pressure following a WhatsApp scandal that dominated headlines last year and amid Red Bull's disappointing start to the 2025 season on the track.

He faced an investigation at Red Bull last February over allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague. And while Horner was eventually cleared of any untoward acts following an inquiry by an independent solicitor, the ordeal reignited when alleged messages from Red Bull's team principal were shared with reporters.

Speculation about his future has been relentless, and his departure signals a significant shift for both Red Bull and Horner himself. Reaction within the paddock is likely to be mixed, though McLaren CEO Zak Brown – a long-term rival of Horner's – is unlikely to be shedding any tears.

Earlier this year, Brown said his relationship with Horner was as frosty as it was depicted in Netflix's Drive to Survive series. "There's no love lost there," the American told The Telegraph. "I don't like how he rolls and no doubt he feels the same about me.

"But I think it's good for the sport. You need different characters. You need these rivalries. Some are friendly, sporting rivalries. Some are a bit more vicious. It's always been like that."

Horner will be replaced as Red Bull team principal by Laurent Mekies, who has been promoted from second team Racing Bulls. The 48-year-old Frenchman, who was previously racing director for Ferrari, had been in the role since the start of the 2024 season.

Under Horner's watch, Red Bull won six Constructors' Championship titles. Their drivers also clinched eight Drivers' Championships, with Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel winning four each.

"We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years," Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull's chief executive of corporate projects and investments, said in a statement. "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 1. Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history."

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Horner's departure comes amid uncertainty surrounding the future of Verstappen. The 27-year-old Dutchman is under contract at Red Bull until 2028, but appears increasingly unsettled amid long-standing links to Mercedes.

Verstappen is looking to match Michael Schumacher's record of five consecutive world title wins this year, but is struggling to keep pace with McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Last season, Verstappen was nearly caught by the latter, picking up just two race wins in the second half of the campaign.

It's been the same story this season, with the defending champion managing just two victories so far. McLaren, meanwhile, have been dominating, with Piastri and Norris winning nine of the 12 races between them.

The gap between Verstappen and the two McLaren drivers is reflected in the Constructors' Championship. Red Bull are fourth in the standings and a whopping 250 points behind Zak Brown's team, who are a shoo-in to defend their Constructors' Championship crown.

Verstappen's dip in form has also coincided with instability in the team. Liam Lawson was initially brought in to replace Sergio Perez as Verstappen's team-mate, but was swapped out for Yuki Tsunoda after a poor start to the season. However, Tsunoda has been struggling too, and there are rumours Red Bull are now considering replacing him with racing prodigy Arvid Lindblad.

If Piastri or Norris, who are neck-and-neck at the top of the table, win the title, it will mark McLaren's first Drivers' Championship since Lewis Hamilton in 2008. Speaking ahead of the British Grand Prix last week, Brown insisted he wanted the pair to "race each other hard", but remember to "race for the team" too.

"We have such a great relationship with both drivers," he told the BBC. "They're high quality individuals who want to do the right thing, want to race in the right way, just want to be treated fairly and equally, which is exactly what we do.

"It's great the way they go racing... we talk about strategy, and that strategy is: 'What's the best result for McLaren?' And then how do we set the drivers up to let them decide on the track... it's great. That's all they want."

He added: "Let the best driver win."