JUST IN : Christian Horner Severs Final Ties With Red Bull After Exit Settlement… Read more

 

 

 

 

Christian Horner Severs Final Ties With Red Bull After Exit Settlement

 

Christian Horner’s long-running partnership with Red Bull Racing is now officially over, marking the end of a 20-year chapter that helped shape modern Formula 1.

 

For years, Horner’s position at the helm of Red Bull seemed untouchable. Since becoming the youngest team principal in F1 history in 2005, he oversaw the team’s rise from newcomers to multiple-time champions. Yet in July 2025, the unthinkable happened: Red Bull stunned the paddock by announcing Horner had been dismissed and immediately replaced by former Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies.

 

Although Mekies assumed day-to-day control, Horner technically remained on Red Bull’s payroll throughout the summer. That changed last week when the team revealed a settlement had been reached, formally ending Horner’s employment as of September 21. The Briton departs with a lucrative multi-million-pound payoff, bringing closure to his two-decade tenure at the energy drinks giant’s flagship F1 team.

 

Reports suggest the settlement could have been even larger had Horner opted for an extended period of gardening leave—the enforced downtime during which high-ranking staff are barred from joining rivals to prevent sensitive knowledge being transferred. Instead, Horner is understood to have agreed to a shorter arrangement, potentially clearing a path for his return to the paddock as early as 2026.

 

While Red Bull celebrated Max Verstappen’s return to winning form in Baku, it was Horner’s name dominating headlines off the track. After the team’s announcement, Horner himself made a symbolic move to confirm he had cut all lingering ties with Red Bull.

 

Despite being ousted from his position in July, Horner’s social media presence continued to feature strong Red Bull branding for months. His Instagram profile picture still showed him in full team kit, while his biography proudly carried the title “Red Bull Racing Team Principal & CEO.” For fans and observers alike, it was a reminder of an awkward transition, with Horner seemingly reluctant to erase his identity as the face of Red Bull Racing.

 

Now, however, that chapter is closed. Horner has changed his Instagram profile to reflect his life away from the paddock, swapping team gear for the casual Oxfordshire farm-style attire he is often seen in at home. His bio has also been stripped entirely, with no mention of Red Bull or even Formula 1, signaling a clean break from the organisation that defined his career.

 

The move is being viewed as Horner’s “final nail in the coffin” regarding his Red Bull past, as he positions himself for the next stage of his career. While no official announcement has been made, speculation is already rife that he could resurface with another F1 team once his period of gardening leave concludes. With his experience and track record—six constructors’ titles and eight drivers’ championships under his leadership—few doubt that Horner will be an attractive option for rival outfits looking to strengthen their management.

 

For now, Horner appears content to step back, reflect, and reset after one of the most dramatic exits in recent F1 history. But his quiet rebrand online suggests the 51-year-old has no intention of disappearing for long. The sport, and perhaps Horner himself, knows this is not a goodbye—only the end of one era, and the preparation for another.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About The Author