On July 9, 2025, Red Bull Racing sacked Christian Horner as team principal and CEO after 20 years, replacing him with Laurent Mekies amid team struggles and internal tensions.
Red Bull GmbH announced the immediate release of Horner, appointing Laurent Mekies from Racing Bulls as the new CEO. Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s CEO of Corporate Projects, praised Horner’s exceptional work, securing eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championships since 2005., per ESPN.
The sacking follows Max Verstappen’s fifth-place finish at the British Grand Prix, highlighting performance issues as Red Bull sits fourth in the 2025 constructors’ standings.
Christian Horner has been sacked by Red Bull after 20 years as team principal, the team confirmed on Wednesday 🏎️ pic.twitter.com/gp8zUrc2F1
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) July 9, 2025Red Bull’s 2025 season has seen a stark contrast to their dominant 2023 performance, with only two wins compared to 21 victories in 2023. Max Verstappen currently sits 69 points behind leader Oscar Piastri and has criticised the car’s handling. Additionally, high-profile departures, including Adrian Newey’s move to Aston Martin and Jonathan Wheatley’s appointment at Sauber, have exacerbated the team’s challenges.
Jos Verstappen’s public feud with Christian Horner has raised concerns about the team’s stability following the allegations of 2024, leading to speculation about Max’s potential move to Mercedes.
BREAKING: Christian Horner has been sacked by Red Bull with immediate effect after 20 years as team principal of the Formula 1 team 🚨 pic.twitter.com/nuUyggvjJH
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) July 9, 2025Horner, 51, has led Red Bull to 124 Grand Prix wins since 2005, successfully transforming the former Jaguar team into a formidable racing powerhouse. However, a scandal in 2024 involving alleged inappropriate behaviour by a female colleague, which was ultimately dismissed after investigations, has tarnished his reputation. Despite being cleared of wrongdoing, he continues to face internal power struggles with Red Bull GmbH and Max Verstappen’s camp. Meanwhile, Mekies, who has experience with Ferrari, is now confronted with the challenging task of managing the team’s engine transition for the 2026 season.
