Red Bull Racing has announced the departure of Team Principal Christian Horner, effective immediately. The team conveyed the decision in a statement released Wednesday, marking a significant shift for the reigning Formula 1 champions.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the past 20 years” the statement read. “His tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking have been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and appealing teams in Formula 1.
Laurent Mekies, previously Team Principal of the sister team Racing Bulls (formerly Toro Rosso), is expected to succeed Horner in the role. The move comes following a period of scrutiny and reportedly increasing internal pressures within Red Bull despite ongoing competitive performances from reigning World Champion Max Verstappen. Challenges have been observed by the team’s second driver, struggling to consistently match Verstappen’s results and indicating potential adjustments needed within the racing operation.