Christian Horner received a modest pay rise in his final full year as Red Bull Racing team principal and chief executive, according to newly released accounts. The 51-year-old officially left the team this week more than two months after being relieved of his duties, having negotiated an exit package reportedly worth around £80 million.
Horner, who led the team for 20 years, was replaced by Laurent Mekies in July after the British Grand Prix. He had a contract until 2030, which meant he was entitled to a substantial payout, significantly inflated beyond his base salary. The latest Red Bull Racing Ltd accounts show Horner, as the highest paid director, received £7,046,000 for the year ending December 31, 2024, a slight increase from £7 million the previous year.
The accounts also reveal Red Bull recorded a profit of £1.681 million, continuing a trend of modest profitability over the past five years. Turnover rose to £314.409 million in 2024, driven by commercial performance, sponsorship, and prize money of around £65 million from their 2023 constructors' championship dominance. The team secured major sponsorship deals, including a title partnership with Oracle worth approximately £70 million per year, and expanded agreements with Castore, AT&T, Tag Heuer, and Exxon.
Horner played a significant role in securing many of the team's highest-paying sponsors, which likely influenced the size of his payout. Some reports suggest he may have compromised on the exit fee in exchange for a shorter gardening leave, potentially allowing him to return to Formula 1 with another team as early as next year.
