Red Bull removes Christian Horner
After 20 years at the helm, Red Bull Racing has dismissed Christian Horner with immediate effect, appointing Laurent Mekies—formerly head of Racing Bulls—as his replacement.
Horner’s departure marks the end of Red Bull’s most successful era in Formula 1, during which the team claimed six Constructors’ Championships and propelled both Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen to multiple titles and victories.
In 2024, Horner was under investigation for “inappropriate behavior,” and so far this season, the team has struggled to regain control of the championship, currently led by McLaren.
However, the Milton Keynes-based outfit has not officially disclosed the reasons behind Horner’s dismissal. Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO of Corporate Projects and Investments at Red Bull, acknowledged Horner’s contribution to the team’s legacy:
“We want to thank Christian Horner for his outstanding work over the past two decades,” said Mintzlaff.
As part of the leadership reshuffle, Racing Bulls’ current sporting director, Alan Permane, has been promoted to Team Principal of that outfit.
“Alan is the perfect person to take the reins at this moment and continue our journey. He knows the team inside out and has always been a key pillar in our early successes,” Racing Bulls stated.
Permane expressed enthusiasm about his new role:
“I’m deeply honored to take on the position of Team Principal and would like to thank Oliver and Helmut Marko for the trust they’ve placed in me.”
Horner’s sudden dismissal has already sent shockwaves through the F1 paddock and is expected to dominate headlines in the upcoming Grand Prix weekends.