Christian Horner Breaks Silence On Social Media After Red Bull Sacking
Former Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal Christian Horner has opened up after his sudden exit. Horner served the team for 20 years from 2005 but was let go with immediate effect on Wednesday.
News about Horner's Red Bull departure sent shockwaves across the F1 community, especially given the team's current struggles, and as Red Bull develops its power unit for the new era beginning in 2026 under the Red Bull Powertrains banner.
Horner has been replaced by former Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies, while Racing Bulls sporting director Alan Permane was promoted to the role of team principal. Horner was said to have reached the Red Bull factory at Milton Keynes yesterday following his exit announcement, where he broke down while addressing his team. Much later, he posted a statement on Instagram, revealing that he was proud of what the team had achieved under his leadership. He wrote:
"After an incredible journey of twenty years together, it is with a heavy heart that today I say goodbye to the Team I have absolutely loved. Every one of you, the amazing people at the factory, have been the heart and soul of everything that we have achieved. Win and lose, every step of the way, we have stood by each other as one and I will never forget that. It's been a privilege being part of and leading this epic Team and I am so proud of our collective accomplishments and you all.
Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing waves in the Paddock prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 27, 2025 in Spielberg, Austria.
Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing waves in the Paddock prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 27, 2025 in Spielberg, Austria."Thanks to the amazing partners and fans who enabled us to go racing. Your support has helped grow the team from its humble beginnings to an F1 powerhouse that laid claim to 6 Constructors Championships and 8 Drivers Championships.
"Equally, thank you to our rivals, with whom there would be no racing at all. You've pushed us, challenged us, and enabled us to achieve accolades we never dreamed possible. The competition has made every victory sweeter and every setback an opportunity to develop and grow.
"Formula 1 is a sport built on relentless ambition, passion, and respect. The rivalries have been fierce, but the mutual drive to innovate and raise the bar is what has made this journey so special.
"It's been an honour to be part of this incredible era of motorsport. I leave with immense pride in what we've achieved and also with what's in the pipeline for 2026 - and huge respect for everyone who's made F1 the pinnacle it is today. Thank You."
Related: Christian Horner Closed Red Bull Chapter With Emotional Goodbye To Team
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Travel + Leisure
3 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
How to Plan Your First Trip to a Formula One Race, According to a Travel Advisor
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Newsweek
17 hours ago
- Newsweek
Mekies Reveals Last Minute Phone Call to Replace Horner as Red Bull F1 CEO
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The new CEO and team principal of Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, has opened up about the last-minute phone call he received about his promotion from the team's senior advisor, Helmut Marko, and the managing director of Red Bull GmbH, Oliver Mintzlaff, hours before the news of Christian Horner's ousting broke. Horner served Red Bull for 20 years as the team's first team principal, a partnership that saw eight drivers' titles and six Constructors' Championships. However, following a challenging period of around eighteen months, Red Bull decided to part ways with Horner. While the Milton Keynes-based team did not reveal the reason for the major decision, Marko revealed in a separate interview that several factors led to Horner's exit, with the topmost among them being performance. He said: "This was the result of various factors, but above all, the performance wasn't quite as good as it could have been. Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing speaks in the Team Principals Press Conference during Sprint qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 25, 2025... Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing speaks in the Team Principals Press Conference during Sprint qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 25, 2025 in Spa, Belgium. More"Fortunately, we were able to bring Laurent Mekies into the family. His responsibilities will be significantly reduced, with the main focus being on racing." Mekies comes with a proven track record of leading Red Bull's junior F1 team, Racing Bulls, which he joined in 2023. The call for a promotion to Red Bull caught him by surprise, much like everybody else. Speaking about the phone call that elevated his position to lead one of F1's most successful teams, Mekies told the media at Spa Francorchamps: "Well, it was not very different for me than it was for you, really, guys. I got a call a few hours before you guys were made aware. I got a call from Oliver and Helmut and they asked me if I would be interested to do the job. "Obviously, it came out of the blue at that moment for me. I was actually in the UK at Racing Bulls and it came in a completely unexpected way. I actually asked them to think about it for a few hours and hung up the phone. It's difficult to digest." Revealing his thoughts that pushed him to take on the new role, Mekies said: "But the first thing that comes into your mind is, 'Wait a second. It's Red Bull. They are calling you. They ask you to step in to do that job, with everything that Red Bull means – its energy, its spirit, how they go about their racing teams' and that's how you pick up the phone and you say, 'Of course, it's an honour. It's a privilege.'" Despite the big moment for Mekies, he didn't hold back from giving due credit to the person who brought him to the Red Bull family - Horner. Mekies added: "First thought obviously goes in this moment as well to Christian because it's not something I could have expected. And he had been nothing else than extremely supportive with me these last two years. "It's not a secret that he's the one with Oliver and Helmut that brought me back to the Red Bull family a couple of years ago. So that's the sort of mix of emotions you get at that moment. "But as I said, the dominant one is it's Red Bull calling. I guess it's a matter of loyalty to go towards the brand and you just say, 'Of course, if you think you need me there, I will go there'."
Newsweek
17 hours ago
- Newsweek
Red Bull Boss Blames FIA for Rain Delay That Hurt Belgian GP Setup
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal Laurent Mekies has highlighted how Formula One's governing body, the FIA, delayed the Belgian Grand Prix race start to avoid a wet race. While he acknowledged that the delay was for safety reasons, the decision left Red Bull at a disadvantage, as its car was set up for a wet race. The race weekend at Spa Francorchamps saw Max Verstappen win the dry sprint race on Saturday, but Sunday turned out to be the opposite as the four-time world champion spent a major part of the race behind Charles Leclerc, struggling to overtake the Ferrari SF-25. Eventually, he finished P4. Verstappen's teammate Yuki Tsunoda finished the race in P13. Rain was forecast for Sunday's Grand Prix, and as a result, Red Bull set up the RB21 F1 car for a wet race. However, the formation lap in the wet highlighted the huge amount of spray being left behind by the cars, which significantly reduced visibility. The race start was delayed for 80 minutes until the rain clouds had passed and the standing water dissipated The race then began under the safety car for four laps just as the sun came out. Mekies, for whom this was the first race as Red Bull team principal after Christian Horner's ousting, revealed that the extended delay caused his team to lose out on performance. He told the media after the race: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing talk in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at... Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing talk in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 25, 2025 in Spa, Belgium. More"I think we were all surprised by how late we started the race. "I'm sure the FIA had its considerations, but certainly for us as a team, it surprised us. "Fundamentally, we waited not only for the rain to stop, but also for pretty much the sun to come out, and then we still had many laps behind the safety car. "Again, I'm sure the FIA had its reasons, but in our specific case, having biased the car towards wet running, it cost us performance but it's part of the game." He added: "For us in terms of effectiveness, the fact that we got so little wet running didn't help. We had made quite heavy choices thinking about a wet race. In the end, the rain came, but we didn't get much wet racing. For sure, it had an influence on the race. "In the dry, at the end of the day, Max spent every single lap in Charles' gearbox, and we didn't have much overtaking. And with our choices and downforce package, it was always unlikely we would pass in the dry. It is what it is. "You start fourth, beaten by three thousandths of a second by Charles, and you finish fourth."
