Red Bull Ousts Christian Horner, Laurent Mekies Assumes Leadership Amid Mass Exodus

Christian Horner was abruptly dismissed as Red Bull Racing's team principal after a 20-year tenure marked by eight Drivers' and six Constructors' World Championships, as the team struggled with a decline in performance and internal conflicts. His departure, effective immediately, was accompanied by the exit of two senior management figures, Paul Smith and Oliver Hughes, indicating a significant leadership overhaul. Horner's tenure witnessed both great success and controversy, including a sexual misconduct investigation from which he was cleared, but recent power struggles and a rift within the team, especially following the death of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, eroded his standing. The team also faces challenges with Max Verstappen's rumored potential move to Mercedes amid dissatisfaction with the current leadership. Laurent Mekies, previously principal of Red Bull's junior squad Racing Bulls, has been appointed as the new CEO of Red Bull Racing to steer the team forward. This leadership reshuffle reflects Red Bull's urgent response to their recent slump and complex internal dynamics.