Red Bull worried staff ‘will walk' due to Christian Horner contract clause
The 51-year-old who lives near Banbury was relieved of his Red Bull team principal role last month after 20 years of service.
Early in July, a statement from Red Bull GmbH read: 'Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today (Wednesday, July 9) and has appointed Laurent Mekies as CEO of Red Bull Racing.'
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Mr Horner lives on the Oxfordshire border. (Image: David Davies / PA)
Mr Horner had been team principal at Red Bull since 2005, overseeing eight drivers' world championships and six constructors' titles.
He led them to world championship success with drivers Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen in a period which included eight drivers' championships and six constructors' championships.
The Formula 1 star resides in a £9.2m mansion with his wife, Geri Halliwell-Horner, on the Oxfordshire border with Northamptonshire.
According to journalist Joe Saward, Red Bull is "more worried" about losing staff behind the scenes.
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Writing in his 'Green Notebook', the journalist has learned that several Red Bull employees are contractually tied to Christian Horner through clauses in their deals.
F1 Oversteer added: "There is a concern that all of those concerned can 'suddenly walk away' without needing to do 'gardening leave'.
"Previous reports had indicated that Red Bull feared a personnel haemorrhage, and this appears to be the mechanism through which the exodus could take place.
"Rival teams are already circling."
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