After two decades at the helm of one of Formula One’s most successful teams, Christian Horner’s era with Red Bull has come to a rocky and very public close.
His departure wasn’t just about performance on the track—it came after a year of behind-the-scenes drama, fractured relationships, and scandal that ultimately left his position untenable.
Heated Confrontation at Silverstone Before Exit
Racing pundit Ralf Schumacher dropped a bombshell this week, revealing that Horner and Jos Verstappen—Max Verstappen’s father—were involved in a tense verbal altercation during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, just days before Horner was dismissed from his role.
According to Schumacher, the exchange was witnessed by media and Red Bull team members, underscoring the deteriorating relationship between the two.
“You could tell Jos was really unhappy with how things were being handled,” Schumacher said on a podcast, calling Horner “a difficult person” who struggled with criticism.
Years of Success Marred by Scandal
Christian Horner’s record at Red Bull is nothing short of historic.
Since 2005, he helped steer the team to eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championships, cementing Red Bull’s place among F1’s elite.
But his downfall began in early 2024, when he was accused by a female employee of sexual harassment and coercive behavior.
Despite being twice cleared of the allegations—first by Red Bull’s own investigation and then through an appeal—the scandal never truly died down.
A leaked cache of 79 WhatsApp messages, reportedly including sexually suggestive content, went public just as his wife, Geri Halliwell of Spice Girls fame, was headed to Bahrain for the season opener.
The fallout was brutal, both personally and professionally.
Jos Verstappen: From Ally to Vocal Critic
Tensions within the Red Bull camp had already been simmering, but Jos Verstappen’s role added fuel to the fire.
A former F1 driver himself and a major influence on his son Max’s career, Jos was one of Horner’s harshest critics during the scandal.
He publicly stated that the team risked being “torn apart” as long as Horner remained in charge.
Over time, their relationship seemed to worsen.
According to reports, Jos had personal ties to the woman at the center of the allegations, which only deepened the divide between him and Horner.
Even after Max Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive title, tensions never fully cooled.
Power Shifts Behind the Scenes
Adding to Horner’s troubles was a shift in Red Bull’s ownership structure following the death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.
Horner had enjoyed a strong alliance with Mateschitz, but that connection didn’t carry over to the next generation of leadership.
His attempts to consolidate power—allegedly even trying to oust motorsport adviser Helmut Marko—reportedly didn’t sit well with others at the top.
In May 2025, documents revealed a key shareholder shift that may have sealed Horner’s fate: Chalerm Yoovidhya, a Thai ally of Horner, had his small but influential 2% ownership stake deleted and reassigned to a Swiss trust.
With ownership now evenly split between Austrian and Thai groups, Horner’s support base within the company seemed to collapse.
The Domino Effect Within the Team
Horner’s departure wasn’t the only shakeup. Several of his key allies have also left or been pushed out, including:
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Adrian Newey, legendary car designer
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Jonathan Wheatley, long-time sporting director
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Will Courtenay, head of strategy
The team’s second driver situation only added to the chaos.
Sergio Perez was handed a two-year contract extension last summer, only to be cut months later, costing Red Bull around £15 million.
Horner and Marko reportedly clashed over his replacement, and after brief stints from Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull has been left struggling with underwhelming results.
Verstappen’s Future Now in Question
Max Verstappen, who currently sits third in the standings—69 points behind Oscar Piastri—is believed to be reevaluating his future with the team.
Talks with rival team Mercedes have reportedly taken place.
His father’s rocky relationship with Horner and the recent instability may have opened the door to a major shake-up in the F1 driver market.
A Farewell Speech and a New Chapter
On Wednesday, Horner addressed Red Bull staff at the Milton Keynes HQ, saying an emotional goodbye.
He confirmed he would no longer be involved operationally, but would remain employed in some capacity.
“This came as a shock,” he admitted, adding, “But I want to express my gratitude to every single member of this team.
When I joined 20 years ago, we were working out of two run-down buildings—and look what we built together.”
Enter Laurent Mekies as the New Team Principal
Replacing Horner is Laurent Mekies, former boss of Red Bull’s sister team Racing Bulls.
Described as more low-profile than Horner, Mekies now faces the tall task of steadying the ship ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, which is just two weeks away.
With Verstappen’s loyalty in doubt, senior staff gone, and internal leadership shaken, Red Bull’s next chapter could be its most challenging yet.