Christian Horner Signs Off at Red Bull with Settlement

Christian Horner, Former Team Principal at Red Bull Racing

July 2025, former team principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner was abruptly let go after 20 years of working with the team. This shocking news came following many sexual harassment allegations against Horner at the start of the 2024 season as well as the downhill performance of the team in the 2025 season. While there are many speculations into the details of Horner’s’ exit from the team, many can assume it is in relation to the heat that has fallen on the team in the previous years due to Christian Horner. 

            While Horner was let go as the team principal for Red Bull Racing back in July, he has a contract with the team following until 2030. This long contract came from the team’s history with the team principle as he has led the team since 2005, gaining eight drivers’ championships and six constructors titles. With the sacking of Horner over the summer, he has now formally left the team with a pay-off of 60 million euros. With a previous salary of 12 million euros in his contract, the 60 million settlement allows for the last five years of his contract to be paid off. After this ending, it is said that Horner may return to Formula 1 in the following season, but the return will not be with Red Bull Racing.

            When the sexual harassment claims began in early 2024, Horner fought against them and was cleared of the allegations following an internation investigation by a lawyer, and a second one hired following the dismissal of the first, on appeal. Even with these allegations being deemed false by Horner, his reputation in the racing world took a hit and impacted the team on track. This investigation opened the question of the team's dynamic and the power struggle throughout Red Bull. Due to this, the team lost their competitiveness which was shown following an almost fully dominated season in 2023, to not being a championship contender in 2025. 

            With the team falling into more of a crisis, and the questions being raised of if their number one driver, Max Verstappen, is to stay on the team, Horner was seen released from his duties and replaced as team principle by Laurent Mekies, the previous principle of the Racing Bulls. With Christian Horner officially gone from Red Bull Racing, the question remains; will we still see him in the paddock for the 2026 season?

By Mira Johal