Christian Horner may have held on too tightly to his role at Red Bull. Ironically, giving up some control might have helped him stay longer.
Just days before Red Bull made their announcement, Horner spoke at the British Grand Prix, insisting that the team’s structure did not need to be altered. The people above him clearly thought otherwise.
He was both team principal and CEO, overseeing every department in Milton Keynes. Ownership may have felt he was spreading himself too thin or becoming too dominant within the organisation.
It is notable that Laurent Mekies has taken on a smaller role than Horner had. Red Bull could end up moving towards a structure similar to McLaren’s, with someone appointed above Mekies to focus on broader strategy.
Tensions rose in Christian Horner’s meetings with Red Bull shareholders
Porsche, the German automotive powerhouse, attempted to purchase a 50% stake in Red Bull. However, Horner successfully blocked the deal, understanding that it would diminish his authority within the team.
The failed deal also marked his first real clash with Oliver Mintzlaff. According to Motor Sport Magazine, Mintzlaff felt ‘undermined’ from the start.
Despite Max Verstappen delivering back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, things began to shift once McLaren started getting the better of Red Bull. Results had always been Horner’s shield, but that protection faded quickly when wins started to dry up.
Meetings with shareholders – Mintzlaff and Chalerm Yoovidhya – grew tense over time. Reports suggest he repeatedly pushed back against demands for change, refusing to give up control of the marketing department during a particularly heated discussion in Austria.
Not long after that meeting, he was called to London and dismissed from his role without much clarity on what led to the decision.
Red Bull atmosphere shifts after Christian Horner departure
Laurent Mekies’ first weekend in charge saw Max Verstappen win the Sprint race in Belgium, giving him a positive start. A fourth-place finish in the main race was steady, but Hungary marked Red Bull’s slowest weekend of the season.
Verstappen qualified eighth, his lowest grid spot of 2025 so far, and slipped back another place during the race. While Yuki Tsunoda’s gap to Verstappen closed a bit, he still finished down in 17th.
Despite that, there’s been a lift in mood inside Red Bull. Many staff had gone through a period of adjustment after Horner’s exit following two decades at the helm. Mekies isn’t under immediate pressure to turn things around, given the issues he’s walked into.
Red Bull are currently fourth in the constructors’ standings and heading for their worst finish since 2015. With most of their development work already done, there may not be much room for improvement this season.
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