Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner axed as Laurent Mekies takes over
9th July 2025Christian Horner has been sacked from his position as the Red Bull Racing CEO after 20 years with the team and will be replaced by Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies.
Feature image credit: Getty Images // Red Bull Content Pool
Formula 1’s longest-serving team principal, Horner, has been sacked from the team with immediate effect the team announced on Wednesday. The former team boss has been part of the grid, and Red Bull Racing since its debut on the F1 grid in 2005.
Horner reportedly said his farewells to the team at the factory, in Milton Keynes, on Wednesday morning.
A statement from Red Bull said:
“Christian Horner has been sacked by Red Bull after 20 years as team prinicpal. Laurent Mekies has been promoted from Racing Bulls to replace him as CEO.”
The news comes after declining form where the team sits in fourth place in the constructors championship, after losing it to McLaren last season, and their defending champion, Max Verstappen, occupies third place with a fifth consecutive championship looking unlikely.
Horner also survived a turbulent year in 2024 after he was accused of inappropriate behaviour, which he was cleared of any wrongdoing twice.
On social media, the team has thanked Horner for his ‘tireless and exceptional work’ as he helped build, and led the team to championship-winning glory with the Max Verstappen (2021-2024) and Sebastian Vettel (2010-2013).
During his tenure, the team secured eight World Drivers Championships and six World Constructors Championships. They said:
“After 20 years with the Team, Christian Horner departs Oracle Red Bull Racing as Team Principal and CEO.
“We thank him for his tireless and exceptional work. He has been instrumental in building this Team into one of the most successful in F1, with eight Drivers’ Championships and six Constructors’ Championships.
“Thank you for everything Christian, you will forever remain an important part of our team’s history.”
Mekies will depart Red Bulls sister team, Racing Bulls, for the top spot at Red Bull, it means Alan Permane – who is currently the Racing Director for the team – will be promoted to Racing Bulls Team Principal, previously held by Mekies.
“The last year and a half has been an absolute privilege to lead the team with Peter. It has been an amazing adventure to contribute to the birth of Racing Bulls together with all our talented people,” commented newly-appointed Red Bull Team Principal, Mekies.
“The spirit of the whole team is incredible, and I strongly believe that this is just the beginning. 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.”
More to follow…
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
