Over the last four years, one team has dominated Formula 1: Red Bull Racing.
With Max Verstappen as the lead driver, the team won the last four drivers’ world championships and two constructors’ championships in that span. It’s the latest run of dominance after their success in the early 2010s with four consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ world championships.
One man’s been a constant during both periods of success: team principal Christian Horner. But Red Bull made a massive change this week by firing him after 21 years in the position.
Horner was the longest-tenured team principal on the F1 grid. He’s been in the sport longer than one of the current teams (Haas) and all but one current driver: Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
‘Yesterday I was informed by Red Bull that operationally I would no longer be involved with the business or the team moving forward from after this gathering,’ he said in the clip. ‘I will still remain employed by the company but operationally the baton will be handed over. And that obviously came as a shock.’
Red Bull hired Horner ahead of the 2005 season, the team’s first in the sport. Red Bull had bought the team formerly known as Jaguar Racing F1 Team and brought Horner in to usher in a new era.
He’s been the team principal for all 124 of the team’s wins in the sport. Only former McLaren boss Ron Dennis has overseen more in F1 history.
‘What I have had time to do is to reflect over the last 12 hours or so and I wanted to stand in front of all of you and just express my gratitude to each and every single member of the team that has given so much during the last 20 and a half years,’ Horner said.
Laurent Mekies will take over for Horner. He’s set to make his debut as Red Bull team principal at the Belgian Grand Prix on July 27.
Prior this move, Mekies had served as team principal at Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s second team on the F1 grid.
Red Bull sits fourth in constructors’ standings which would be its worst result as a team since the 2015 season.
Christian Horner firing reaction
Horner’s firing has drawn mixed reactions from across F1 media. Commentator David Croft – the voice of F1 on Sky Sports and ESPN’s re-broadcast – posted on X that ‘it doesn’t get much bigger in F1’ than a firing like this.
Croft’s broadcast partner, Martin Brundle, said he was sad to hear of Horner’s firing but wasn’t completely surprised by the move.
‘I don’t think it’s completely out of the blue, given the problems in the team,’ he wrote. ‘It’s not too difficult to feel in the F1 paddock and to observe and hear that things were not particularly rosy. … It perhaps makes it more likely that the Verstappens will stay there – I think that became quite personal.’
Horner also faced an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior towards a female colleague in 2024. Red Bull cleared him of wrongdoing after an external investigation but that may have had an impact on his relationship with star driver Verstappen and his father, Jos.
Fox Sports’ Will Buxton, who many will recognize from his appearances on the Netflix F1 series ‘Drive to Survive,’ posted on X that this may be the right move at this time to keep Verstappen from getting signed away by rival Mercedes.
Verstappen himself thanked Horner in a post to his Instagram page.
‘From my first race win, to four world championships, we have shared incredible successes,’ he wrote. ‘Winning memorable races and breaking countless records. Thank you for everything, Christian!’
Red Bull rankings in F1 history
Red Bull’s been a part of F1 for 21 seasons – all under Horner’s watch – and has become one of the most accomplished teams in history.
Here’s a list of their team records and where they rank among all teams in F1 history:
Races: 405 (7th)
Wins: 124 (4th)
Podiums: 287 (5th)
Pole positions: 107 (5th)
Constructors’ championships: 6 (6th)
Drivers’ championships: 8 (4th)
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