The £80 million decision Red Bull Racing Managing Director ‘knew’ he had to make

Follow us on Google Discover

One of the biggest personnel changes in F1 came when Red Bull Racing parted ways with longtime team principal Christian Horner.

Red Bull Managing Director Oliver Mintzlaff has spoken for the first time about the decision to part ways with long-time team principal Christian Horner.

The decision to move on from Horner involved an £80 million settlement to end a dominant era for the team.

Oliver Mintzlaff says Red Bull had to move on from Christian Horner

In a rare interview with De Telegraaf, Oliver Mintzlaff said the company stood firmly behind the move to remove Horner ahead of the 2025 season.

“I wouldn’t call it a risk because we were 100 per cent behind this measure,” he said. “We knew we had to do something.”

Horner, who took charge of Red Bull in 2005, led the team to eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championships over two decades.

The 52-year-old agreed to an £80 million settlement after weeks of talks, one that crucially didn’t involve a non-compete clause, which allows him to join a new team in the future.

While acknowledging Horner’s achievements, Mintzlaff said the team couldn’t rely on past success to justify his position.

“I’m not a hire-and-fire manager, but this is part of a professional organisation,” he said. “You can’t keep relying on history, and we felt it was time to turn the page and start a new chapter.”

Reports had emerged before the summer break that Red Bull’s hierarchy was worried about the team’s direction.

At the time of Horner’s departure, they were fourth in the Constructors’ Championship — their lowest standing in years.

Red Bull look to a brighter future under Laurent Mekies

Christian Horner’s replacement, Laurent Mekies, was promoted from sister team Racing Bulls and has since led a competitive resurgence.

Under his guidance, Red Bull won six of the final nine races of the 2025 season, with Max Verstappen cutting a 104-point deficit to finish just two points behind champion Lando Norris.

The team has undergone a full structural reset, with key figures including Helmut Marko, Adrian Newey, and Jonathan Wheatley also departing.

Internally, staff are said to have welcomed a calmer working environment since Mekies’ arrival.

Red Bull are now preparing for a new era in partnership with Ford, who join as power unit suppliers in 2026. Mintzlaff said the decision was necessary to protect Red Bull’s long-term future.

With Max Verstappen’s resurgence serving as a reminder that the Dutch ace is still a dangerous driver, Red Bull Racing will hope to reclaim their throne during the 2026 F1 season.

Read More: How much money did Max Verstappen make over his $65m base salary in 2025 F1 season