Red Bull Sacks Christian Horner Ending Two-Decade Reign

Christian Horner's two-decade tenure as Red Bull Racing's team principal ended abruptly in mid-2025, with his dismissal reportedly coming as a surprise to him. Despite his role in transforming Red Bull into a dominant force with eight Drivers' Championships and six Constructors' Titles, the team's recent decline in performance contributed to the decision. British TV personality Jeremy Clarkson compared Horner's sacking to Manchester United's post-Alex Ferguson struggles, emphasizing Horner's significant contributions and likening the dismissal to an unexpected firing of a highly successful leader. Horner was reportedly informed of his removal face-to-face by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko and global sports director Oliver Mintzlaff in a London hotel, with groundwork for the decision having been laid weeks earlier during Red Bull's home race. The official reason for the firing remains unstated, but it followed a high-profile investigation into Horner involving accusations of inappropriate behavior, from which he was cleared twice, though the episode reportedly cast a shadow over the team. Laurent Mekies has been named as Horner's immediate replacement, while rumors link Horner to potential roles at Alpine or Ferrari as the 2025 season progresses.