Red Bull Racing staff were reportedly gripped by “significant emotion” on Wednesday morning as long-serving team principal Christian Horner announced his shock departure, just hours before his sacking was made public.
The 51-year-old Briton, who had been at the helm of the Formula 1 team since its debut in 2005, was removed from his position as CEO and team principal with immediate effect.
The decision, reportedly finalised the day before, brings to an end a two-decade reign in which Horner led Red Bull to eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ titles.
He has been replaced by Racing Bulls’ team boss Laurent Mekies, with Alan Permane stepping up to fill Mekies’ role at Red Bull’s sister team.
A Morning of High Emotion at Milton Keynes
Sky Sports’ Craig Slater revealed that Horner’s departure was communicated to him by Red Bull GmbH on Tuesday, with staff and senior sponsors informed shortly after.
By 10am Wednesday, Horner stood before Red Bull’s workforce at their Milton Keynes headquarters and delivered a farewell speech described as both emotional and heart-wrenching.
“It is a shocked campus at Milton Keynes,” said Slater. “We understand this decision was finalised yesterday. It was communicated to Horner yesterday, and to senior sponsorship partners.
“Horner then came and addressed the staff at 10am UK time. He left the campus at 11.25am.
“Staff have been told to make no comment. This is being handled by the Salzburg office.
“I understand that two other senior management figures with close connections to Horner have also left their employment at Red Bull.
“In terms of the rank and file, we spoke to a few off-camera, and there is significant emotion among them.”
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That emotion was laid bare in Horner’s parting words to the team. According to Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft, the outgoing team boss “broke down” during the speech, overwhelmed by the moment and the end of a 20-year chapter.
“That emotion is one of sadness,” said Croft. “Look around the Red Bull campus - 20 years ago it was barely a third of the size it is now.
“In Horner’s time as CEO and team principal he has seen extensions, wind tunnels, the work force has increased to over 1000 people. The wind tunnel employs even more.
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“From those we spoke to, it is a unified sense of disappointment and sadness at a man they see has unified their team. He was never scared to sit and have a chat to people no matter what they did for the organisation.
“The speech Horner gave to the factory, we understand, was hugely emotional. Christian was emotional and broke down. He received a massive ovation at the end of the speech from a workforce that are loyal to him, as he has brought success, bonuses, glory.
“He looked impassive [as he left the campus], just staring ahead. No thumbs up, no wave. He drove out of the gates for what is now the final time.”
Behind the Exit: A Storm of Pressure
While Red Bull has yet to officially comment on the specific reasons behind Horner’s dismissal, Croft suggested the decision was fuelled by a combination of internal and external pressures.
“It’s a culmination and a combination,” he explained. “The allegations of inappropriate behaviour linger on, despite the fact that Christian was cleared twice.
“All has not appeared rosy between Christian and the Max Verstappen camp. There is speculation Max might be off to Mercedes. He’s the one bringing home the lion’s share of the points.
“F1 is a results business. Those results haven’t been there. They have been outscored at the most recent four races by Sauber, who have a team principal in Jonathan Wheatley who used to be the sporting director at Red Bull.
“There comes a time at the very top where the shareholders in Austria and Thailand say ‘enough is enough, we need to start a clean slate’.”
Horner’s sudden removal marks a stunning moment in Red Bull Racing’s history. He was the only team principal the squad had ever known, a constant through its rise from a fledgling outfit into one of Formula 1’s dominant forces.
As the dust settles in Milton Keynes, the team now turns a new page — but it does so under a cloud of uncertainty and emotion, with many inside the factory still reeling from the abrupt and emotional farewell of the man who led them to the pinnacle of motorsport.
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