Christian Horner Departs Red Bull with £80m Settlement After 20 Years as Team Principal

Christian Horner, the long-time team principal of Red Bull Racing, has officially left the team after a notable 20-year tenure during which he led Red Bull to eight drivers' and six constructors' world titles. His departure follows a power struggle within the team and was preceded by his removal from operational duties about ten weeks earlier. Horner received a substantial exit package worth around £80 million, reduced from an initial £110 million payout, which allows him to return to Formula One as early as next season. His exit was influenced by internal tensions, including a high-profile scandal involving allegations of coercive behavior, from which he was cleared, but which nonetheless damaged relationships within the team. Red Bull’s parent company sought more control over the commercial side, which Horner resisted, contributing to his dismissal. While he has not announced his next move, Horner has been linked with several teams and is expected to return to Formula One in a different capacity.