CHRISTIAN HORNER FINALLY REVEALS REASON FOR RED BULL SACKING

Christian Horner has finally revealed the reason given by Red Bull for his sacking.

Christian Horner. (Image: David Davies / PA Wire)

The former Formula 1 team principal was removed from his role following the British Grand Prix in 2025, bringing his two-decade spell in charge of the team to an end.

Mr Horner had served as Red Bull’s team principal since the energy drinks company took over Jaguar’s Formula 1 operation at the end of 2004.

During his time at the helm, the team secured eight drivers’ world championships and six constructors’ titles, with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen among those to enjoy success under his leadership.

Mr Horner, who lives on the Oxfordshire border near Banbury, has now claimed he was initially told that the team’s performance had declined before receiving a more detailed explanation after pushing for answers.

Speaking to The Times, he said: “I was never given a clear explanation other than that they felt [the team’s] performance had slipped a little.

“Even though at the [previous] race we’d been on pole position and leading the British Grand Prix; had it not been for the weather, we’d probably have won it. And that they wanted to go in a different direction.

“When I really pushed — I had six years left on my contract — I was told that it was more Christian Horner Racing than Red Bull Racing.”

Mr Horner was replaced as team principal by Laurent Mekies following his departure.

His exit came after he had faced an allegation of misconduct involving a female employee in 2024, which he denied.

Red Bull dismissed the complaint against Mr Horner following an internal investigation, while an appeal against that decision was also dismissed.

GPFans reports that Mr Horner was paid £80 million to leave Red Bull, with the former team boss saying the size of the reported settlement showed he had not committed any wrongdoing.

He added: “It also demonstrates that you’ve done nothing wrong. They just don’t want you any more. If somebody’s prepared to pay that much money for you not to be there …

“And I think if you look at that team 12 months down the line, it’s lost its mojo, its presence, its vibe.”

At the time of the interview, Red Bull had reportedly gone 15 races without a victory, its longest winless run since Mr Verstappen joined the team in 2016.

That sequence subsequently ended when the four-time world champion claimed victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was held in Malaysia.

- Edward Burnett