Why Christian Horner was removed as Red Bull F1 team boss

Christian Horner’s tenure as the longest-serving F1 team principal ended abruptly as he was sacked as Red Bull team principal after 20 years. The 51-year-old oversaw the team's dominance, winning eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ crowns, including the past four titles with Max Verstappen.

Horner will be replaced by Laurent Mekies, the principal of Racing Bulls, Red Bull's sister team. Mekies, a motorsport aerodynamics specialist, joined Racing Bulls in 2024 after working with teams like Arrows, Minardi, Toro Rosso, and Ferrari.

No reason was given for Horner's sacking, which follows a challenging 18 months for him, including allegations of sexual harassment and tensions within the team. His departure also coincided with the loss of Adrian Newey to Aston Martin, a significant blow to Red Bull.

Under Horner’s leadership, Red Bull achieved its first world championship in 2010 and went on to win multiple titles, including four consecutive drivers’ championships with Sebastian Vettel and four more with Max Verstappen from 2021 to 2024.

As for Verstappen, he currently trails in the drivers’ standings and has hinted at conceding the title for this season. Speculation about his future with Red Bull or a potential move to Mercedes has been circulating, with Horner's exit possibly influencing his decision.

According to the source: Al Jazeera.