Red Bull sack team principal Christian Horner

Horner had overseen the team since 2005

Christian Horner has been sacked as Red Bull team principal. PA

Red Bull announced Christian Horner has been released from his role as longtime team principal of their Formula One team.

Red Bull did not give a reason for the decision in a statement on Wednesday, but thanked Horner for his work and said he will "forever remain an important part of our team history".

Laurent Mekies of sister team Racing Bulls will replace Horner.

Horner's dismissal comes 17 months after he was accused by a female colleague of "inappropriate behaviour". Horner was twice exonerated of the claims by the Formula One team's parent company, Red Bull GmBH.

The statement from Red Bull GmbH read: "Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today (Wednesday, July 9, 2025) and has appointed Laurent Mekies as CEO of Red Bull Racing."

Horner, 51, had been team principal at Red Bull since 2005, overseeing eight drivers' world championships - four for Sebastian Vettel and four for Max Verstappen - and six constructors' world championships.

However, Red Bull's form has dipped with four-time world champion Verstappen having won only two of the 12 races staged this season.

Verstappen finished fifth in Sunday's British Grand Prix at Silverstone. That race turned out to be Horner's last in charge.

Red Bull sit fourth in the constructors' championship.

Horner spent much of last week fielding questions about Verstappen’s future at the team after the Dutch driver declined to commit to stay with Red Bull for 2026.

Red Bull Group CEO Oliver Mintzlaff said: "We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years.

"With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula One. Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history."

The 51-year-old Briton was the longest-serving team principal, having been in the position since Red Bull made their F1 debut in 2005.

Red Bull won their first world championship in 2010, with Vettel taking four consecutive titles. Following a period of dominance by Mercedes, Red Bull rose again and in 2023 won 21 of the 22 races staged, with Verstappen setting a new record for 10 consecutive victories.

However, Verstappen has effectively ruled himself out of this season's race. He is 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri at the midway stage of the 24-round season.

Horner’s departure comes in the middle of the team’s efforts to prepare for one of the biggest rule changes in F1 in decades next season. Red Bull will make its own engines in partnership with Ford, a project led by Horner.

At Racing Bulls, whose cars have sometimes outperformed the main Red Bull team this season, Alan Permane will be promoted from racing director to team principal to fill the gap left by Mekies.

“The spirit of the whole (Racing Bulls) team is incredible, and I strongly believe that this is just the beginning,” Mekies said in a statement released by Racing Bulls, which did not mention Horner.

“Alan is the perfect man to take over now and continue our path. He knows the team inside out and has always been an important pillar of our early successes.”