Christian Horner Exonerates Max Verstappen in Red Bull Dismissal
Christian Horner has publicly absolved Max Verstappen of any responsibility for his sudden removal as Red Bull team principal last year. Horner, who was relieved of his duties in July 2025 and formally departed in September after two decades with the Formula 1 team, made his most detailed comments yet in the upcoming Netflix documentary Drive To Survive.
Internal Corporate Decisions Blamed
Horner attributes his dismissal to Red Bull company chief executive for corporate projects and investments, Oliver Mintzlaff, and then-Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko, rather than Verstappen or his father, Jos. "I don't believe that the Verstappens were responsible in any way," Horner explains. "I think this was a decision that was made by Oliver Mintzlaff with Helmut advising from the sideline."
He suggests that internal changes within Red Bull following the 2022 death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz played a crucial role. "After Dietrich's death I think probably I was deemed to have maybe too much control," Horner adds, indicating a shift in corporate dynamics that led to his exit.
Verstappen's Contract and Team Transition
At the time of Horner's departure, Verstappen had not yet committed to staying with Red Bull beyond 2026, a decision he made weeks after Laurent Mekies took over as team principal. Marko had previously expressed public concerns about Verstappen's future, citing a performance-related clause in his contract that could allow the four-time world champion to leave. Marko himself announced his retirement in December 2025.
Mekies subsequently oversaw an improvement in Red Bull's form during the latter half of the season, with Verstappen taking his ultimately unsuccessful title defence to the final race before McLaren's Lando Norris secured the championship.
Horner's Emotional Response and Background
Reflecting on his exit, Horner expresses deep emotional turmoil. "I feel a real sense of loss and hurt. It was all rather sudden. I didn't really get a chance to say a proper goodbye," he says in the Netflix series. "I've had something taken away from me that wasn't my choice, that was very precious to me."
Horner's removal came more than a year after he faced allegations of misconduct towards a team employee. An investigation commissioned by Red Bull dismissed the allegation, as did a subsequent investigation following an appeal by the employee. Horner remained in charge of the F1 team throughout the entire process.
Horner, who oversaw all four of Verstappen's world championships during his tenure, emphasizes that his relationship with Jos Verstappen was strained but not a factor in his dismissal. "His father has never been my biggest fan. He's been outspoken about me," Horner notes, yet he maintains that the Verstappens were not involved in the decision-making process.
