Christian Horner drove away from the Red Bull Formula 1 headquarters for the final time on Wednesday morning without a farewell wave, as the team principal ended his 20-year tenure with the Milton Keynes-based squad.
Emotional Final Address to Staff
Shortly after his departure was confirmed, the 51-year-old visited the team factory to address colleagues. According to Sky F1 presenter David Croft, Horner struggled to speak during the meeting. Croft said: "The speech Christian Horner gave this morning to the factory was hugely emotional, we understand. And Christian himself was very emotional and broke down on occasions. He received a massive ovation at the end of that speech from a workforce that is very loyal to him."
A Legacy of Success
Horner joined Red Bull in 2005 and helped transform the team into a dominant force in Formula 1. During his two decades at the helm, Red Bull secured eight drivers' championships and six constructors' titles, totalling 14 world championships. However, a poor start to the 2025 campaign, with the team struggling to keep pace with frontrunners McLaren, led to his dismissal.
Quiet Departure
Croft described the scenes as Horner left the factory: "He drove out this morning at 11.25am. He looked fairly impassive, just staring ahead in his car. There were no thumbs up, there were no waves." Horner has yet to release a public statement regarding his exit.
New Leadership Announced
Red Bull quickly appointed Laurent Mekies as Horner's replacement, promoting him from his role as team principal of the development team, Racing Bulls. Mekies said: "I am excited to be taking on the role of CEO and team principal of Red Bull Racing, one of the most successful and dynamic teams in the sport. It's an honour to be part of this group of brilliant people that embody the Red Bull spirit. Together we will achieve great results, building on the incredible legacy left by Christian Horner during his two decades in charge."
