Christian Horner Claims Red Bull Ousted Him Over ‘Too Much Control’ of the Team
Christian Horner has revealed that his sudden departure from Red Bull last year may have stemmed from concerns over his control of the team and its identity. In his recent appearance on the 60 Minutes Australia show, the former team principal, who spent more than two decades leading Red Bull, broke his silence on the abrupt exit.
“Perhaps I was deemed to have too much control,” Horner revealed [16:51], “I mean, I was told it was more like Christian Racing than Red Bull Racing.”
Following the passing of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in late 2022, the structural power dynamics between the Austrian parent company and the UK-based racing team shifted dramatically.
Horner was fired from his role as Red Bull Racing team principal in July 2025, just days after the F1 British Grand Prix.
Christian Horner Reminds of His Success at Red Bull
The former Red Bull boss also defended his record, emphasizing the results and commercial growth achieved under his leadership. During his time at the helm, the team won six Constructors’ Championships and eight Drivers’ Championships with drivers Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, establishing the team as one of the sport’s most successful teams.
When the interviewer asked him whether he would have sacked himself given Red Bull’s mediocre first half of the 2025 season, Horner pointed out the success the team achieved in his tenure.
“I think that Formula 1 is a results-based business,” he said [16:25]. “If you look at the bare facts, I delivered 124 victories, 14 world championships, 287 podiums, and a win ratio of one in four. I drove sponsorship revenues of probably over $3billion into the business and created an engine from scratch.”
Horner was sacked from his role as team principal and CEO midway through a contract that was originally set to run through the end of 2030. His departure triggered extensive financial negotiations and secured a staggering £75 million to £80 million (roughly $100 million USD) exit package.
Christian Horner Opens up About Missing Red Bull’s Celebrations
Despite the circumstances surrounding his departure, Horner claimed that he took satisfaction in leaving the organization in a strong position. However, watching the team continue without him proved emotionally difficult.
“What hurt was seeing all the people not being able to share that moment with them,” Horner said [17:27]. “It’s kind of looking through the window of a party that you’re not invited to.”
After his departure, Verstappen went on to win six of the next nine races last year. Laurent Mekies took over the role of Red Bull team principal and CEO.
Although his exit from the F1 marked the end of an era, his legacy as leader remains closely tied to Red Bull Racing’s rise to the front of the sport. For his incredible services in motorsport, he was awarded the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2013, followed by the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2024.
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