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Christian Horner’s Red Bull era is over—but the timeline is more complicated than the headline suggests. Red Bull removed him from his operational roles on July 9, 2025, replacing him immediately with Laurent Mekies. The company did not publicly say that Horner was fired for misconduct, nor did it publish a specific reason for the change.
Horner’s formal departure came later, on September 22, 2025. Here is what is confirmed, what has been reported, and what remains speculation.
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What happened to Christian Horner?
Red Bull said on July 9, 2025, that it had “released Christian Horner from his operational duties.” That wording ended his work as Red Bull Racing’s CEO and team principal, roles he had held since the team entered Formula 1 in 2005.
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Laurent Mekies, who had been team principal of Red Bull’s sister outfit Racing Bulls, took over as Red Bull Racing’s CEO and team principal with immediate effect. Mekies remains in those positions in 2026.
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Although the move is commonly described as Horner being “fired,” Red Bull did not use that word in its initial announcement. It also did not identify a single cause. Public reporting pointed to a combination of Red Bull’s weaker 2025 results, internal management conflict and the continuing controversy around Horner, but those explanations have not been confirmed by the team as the official reason.
Why this is described as a 20-year Red Bull career
Horner became Red Bull’s team principal in January 2005, when the former Jaguar operation was relaunched under the Red Bull name. He stayed in charge for roughly two decades, making him one of the longest-serving team principals in modern Formula 1.
His record included:
| Achievement | Total |
|---|---|
| Drivers’ championships | 8 |
| Constructors’ championships | 6 |
| Consecutive drivers’ titles with Sebastian Vettel | 2010–2013 |
| Consecutive drivers’ titles with Max Verstappen | 2021–2024 |
That success made Horner central to Red Bull’s identity. The team moved from a new midfield entrant in 2005 to a championship-winning operation, first through its Vettel partnership and later through Verstappen’s dominant run.
Did the 2024 investigation cause Horner’s removal?
There is no publicly verified answer to that question.
In February 2024, Red Bull confirmed that it had opened an independent investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior toward a female employee. The company did not publish the detailed allegations, evidence or findings.
Red Bull’s initial investigation dismissed the complaint. The complainant appealed, and Red Bull later said that the appeal was also dismissed. In that narrow sense, Horner was cleared twice through Red Bull’s internal process.
That does not justify either of two common but unsupported conclusions. It is inaccurate to state as fact that Horner was removed because he was found guilty of misconduct. Red Bull did not say that, and the complaint and appeal were dismissed. It is also inaccurate to claim that the investigation proved nothing happened, because the evidence and reasoning were not made public.
Red Bull gave no specific public reason for removing Horner in July 2025. The investigation is therefore part of the context, but not a confirmed explanation for the leadership change.
When did Horner actually leave Red Bull?
There are two important dates:
- July 9, 2025: Horner was removed from his operational duties as CEO and team principal. Mekies took over immediately.
- September 22, 2025: Red Bull formally announced that Horner would leave the team that day.
Between those dates, Horner remained contractually connected to Red Bull while the parties negotiated the terms of his departure. Reports said his contract had been due to run until 2030, but Red Bull did not publish the relevant contract terms or any gardening-leave conditions.
How much did Christian Horner receive?
Red Bull did not disclose a settlement figure.
BBC Sport reported, citing a source close to the team, that Horner received approximately €60 million, or £52 million. That is a reported figure, not an amount officially confirmed by Red Bull. It should therefore be described as an alleged or reported settlement rather than a confirmed payout.
What is Horner doing now?
Horner has not been appointed to another confirmed Formula 1 team or executive role as of August 8, 2026.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →He returned to the F1 paddock at the 2026 British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 5, 2026. It was his first paddock appearance since leaving Red Bull. Horner said a permanent return would depend on finding an opportunity that gave him a realistic chance to win.
Reports have linked him with possible involvement in Alpine, BYD and other projects. None of those possibilities had become an officially announced F1 appointment by August 8, 2026. His Silverstone appearance was a return to the paddock—not confirmation that he had returned to Formula 1 employment.
Who runs Red Bull Racing now?
Laurent Mekies is Red Bull Racing’s CEO and team principal. He previously led Racing Bulls before moving into the senior role at Red Bull Racing.
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Any article, social-media post or broadcast still identifying Horner as Red Bull’s team principal is out of date. The team’s official 2026 materials identify Mekies as the person leading the operation.
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The short version
| Question | Confirmed answer |
|---|---|
| Was Horner removed from his Red Bull role? | Yes, on July 9, 2025. |
| Was his final departure announced on the same day? | No. Red Bull formally announced his departure on September 22, 2025. |
| Did Red Bull state that misconduct was the reason? | No. |
| Was the 2024 complaint upheld? | Red Bull said the complaint and appeal were dismissed. |
| Was a £52 million settlement officially confirmed? | No. It was reported by BBC Sport from a source close to the team. |
| Has Horner joined another F1 team? | No confirmed appointment had been announced by August 8, 2026. |
FAQ
Was Christian Horner fired by Red Bull?
Red Bull removed Horner from his operational duties on July 9, 2025, but officially said it had “released” him rather than using the word “fired.” His formal departure was announced on September 22, 2025.
Why did Red Bull remove Christian Horner?
Red Bull did not publicly give a specific reason. Reporting connected the decision with Red Bull’s 2025 performance, internal disputes and the wider controversy surrounding Horner, but those factors were not confirmed by the team as the official cause.
Was Christian Horner found guilty in the workplace investigation?
Red Bull said the original complaint and a later appeal were dismissed. However, the company did not publish the evidence or findings, so it is not accurate to claim either that Horner was found guilty or that the investigation proved nothing happened.
Has Christian Horner returned to Formula 1?
He returned to the F1 paddock at the 2026 British Grand Prix, but he had not accepted a confirmed F1 team or executive role as of August 8, 2026. Reports linking him with other projects remain speculation.
The Bottom Line
Christian Horner’s operational control of Red Bull ended on July 9, 2025, after nearly 20 years as the team’s leader, while his formal departure followed on September 22. Red Bull has not stated a specific reason for the change. Laurent Mekies now runs Red Bull Racing, and Horner’s next F1 move remains unconfirmed.
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