Horner Leaves Red Bull; Settlement Reported £52m–£80m

Christian Horner has left Red Bull after a 20-year tenure, reportedly agreeing to a settlement now said to be in the roughly £52m–£80m range that releases him from contractual obligations. The deal, described by Red Bull and reported by outlets including Sky Sports and Forbes, could allow him to return to Formula One as early as mid‑2026 (with some reports saying sooner). Horner was relieved of operational duties after the British Grand Prix in July 2024, with Laurent Mekies taking over as team principal. His departure followed last year’s sexting controversy — from which he was cleared — and reported internal divisions with senior figures such as Helmut Marko and Jos Verstappen. Observers note his sporting legacy of eight drivers’ and six constructors’ world titles and more than 100 wins, and he has been linked to possible roles at Alpine, Ferrari, Haas or even MotoGP. Analysts warn a large portion of any settlement could be lost to UK taxes, and media attention has also focused on his marriage to Geri Halliwell and plans for a delayed honeymoon.