New Delhi: With reports of Christian Horner getting a massive £50 million settlement after his sacking from Red Bull Racing on 1 July, many F1 followers are still asking—Why?
With more than five years left on his existing contract, fans want to know why the abrupt curtains on the 51-year-old’s 20-year career at Red Bull, one which saw eight Drivers’ Championships, six Constructors’ titles, and 124 race wins.
Christian Horner is one of the very few names in the paddock that carries a lot of influence, controversy and legacy. Despite never having driven a Formula 1 car, for over a decade and a half, Horner had been the backbone of Red Bull Racing as the team principal, playing a pivotal role in launching and reviving the careers of veteran drivers, giving them a competitive platform at Red Bull.
Horner’s motorsport journey
Born in Warwickshire in 1973, Horner began his motorsport journey as a racer himself, competing in Formula Renault, British F3 and later Formula 3000. It was during this stint that he realised his competitive edge wasn’t behind the wheel, but on the pit wall. In 1997, at just 23, he formed Arden International, a junior racing team that would dominate Formula 3000 by the early 2000s.
Horner had an eye for ambition and a knack for business. His sheer will to win caught Dietrich Mateschitz’s attention. When Red Bull bought the Jaguar Racing team in late 2004, it was Horner who was appointed to run the show. At 31, he became the youngest team principal in F1 history.
The Red Bull Rise
In the early years, Horner was the sharp-tongued Brit trying to steer an energy drink company into a legitimate racing juggernaut. The breakthrough came in 2009, and from 2010 to 2013, Red Bull Racing, powered by Adrian Newey’s aerodynamic genius and Sebastian Vettel’s freakish speed, swept four significant Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships.
Horner was not just the suit on the podium. He was everywhere—negotiating contracts, defusing (or inflaming) driver escalations and most importantly shielding his team from the firestorm of F1 politics. While Mercedes and Ferrari played corporate chess, Horner was always three quotes ahead in the media game. From launching the dominance of veterans like Sebastian Vettel to nurturing Max Verstappen into a generational talent, Horner provided unwavering support. He has defended drivers publicly when under fire—be it Vettel’s aggressive title runs, Verstappen’s on track boldness or Sergio Perez’s struggles with form. Horner often absorbed media pressure himself to shield the team. Internally, he was known to foster a culture of loyalty and confidence, allowing his drivers to race hard.
After a lull during the hybrid engine era dominated by Mercedes, Red Bull, along with Max Verstappen, built a new dynasty, where they culminated in title runs in 2021, 2022 and then the sheer dominance in 2023. Verstappen’s rise has been Horner’s ultimate masterstroke, wherein he managed the aggressive, emotional and often unpredictable Dutchman with a mix of discipline and freedom. Under Horner’s stewardship, Red Bull broke records, rewrote history and redefined modern F1 strategy.
Like all dynasties, cracks appeared from within
2024 should have been another routine year of Red Bull dominance. However, it wasn’t. Right in the midst of the 2024 season, Red Bull suffered from a major setback. Adrian Newey, who holds the title for being the best aerodynamics engineer in F1, left the team. Newey, who built every car for Red Bull Racing since 2006, left for Aston Martin. The Newey-Horner partnership was responsible for all six of Red Bull’s Constructors’ and eight Drivers’ championships.
But the turbulence didn’t quite end there. Earlier, in the season, Horner was involved in a widely reported internal probe after claims of misconduct from a female team member. Even though he was ultimately exonerated by both an internal and external investigation, the dispute lingered heavily over the paddock. Concerns regarding transparency and internal team conflicts turned into sidetracks in a season that already felt unusually unstable for a group accustomed to having control.
Horner’s dynamic with the media had been ‘savvy’. What defined him was the ability to wield soft power, charming sponsors and playing team politics with FIA. Yet in 2025, those very strengths became liabilities. Insiders accused him of consolidating too much power. Critics questioned his judgement in handling crises. And as Mercedes rebounded and McLaren surged, Red Bull’s dominance began to wobble—not because they were slower but because they were distracted.
Max Verstappen in the previous seasons had been consistent in challenging his opponents. However, in the ongoing season, Verstappen has been struggling to hang on to his legendary pole positions as there has been a slight downfall. Evidently, Verstappen has been quite unhappy about it for a while, a major setback were the changes in the car. In one of the races, Red Bull’s light system failed to work during his first pit stop, meaning that it continued to show red rather than switch to green. Max evidently complained about the balance issues that were quite persistent. Apart from conflicting dynamics, Horner had a feud with Jos Verstappen, in which the former F1 driver publicly called for Horner’s departure. Verstappen’s future with the team is suspected to be under scrutiny with reports claiming ongoing talks with Mercedes.
In a statement, Toto Wolff made it clear he would consider Verstappen a prime asset to bring to Mercedes. George Russell, driver for Mercedes said in Austria that Mercedes were having “conversations” with the Dutchman amid his own contract discussions’—the Briton’s current deal expires at the end of this season. Reports claim Russell’s contract is on hold.
The Last King of the Paddock?
With the dismissal of Horner, an era has come to an end. An era when team principals weren’t just background executives, but protagonists. When paddock politics was as fascinating as pole laps. And when one man in a navy-blue shirt, half-smirking on a pit wall, made Red Bull Racing feel less like a brand and more like an empire.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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