Christian Horner pens his first thoughts after being announced to leave Red Bull F1 team role, as he reflects on his journey.
While it came a surprise in the middle of 2025 F1 season, but it is not entirely a shock for Horner to leave the Red Bull team principal role. For over a year, the Brit’s future has been in the balance, especially after all what transpired off track.
He retained his job after clearing his name, but the results on track didn’t help his case as much. While Max Verstappen managed to drag the car to better results, the second seat remained a rotating seat after average to poor returns whoever they tried.
Red Bull as a team lost the constructors’ to McLaren and in 2025, they are expected to loose the drivers’ title too. As such, no reasons has been handed out about the decision, but the company took it on Tuesday to axe Horner from his senior role.
In a video from his message to the F1 team at Milton Keynes, Horner noted about being employed by Red Bull still but he will do no work on the operation side, which has been handed to Laurent Mekies, who comes over from Visa Cash App RB.
His place will be taken over by Alan Permane alongside Peter Bayer. For Horner, it a long journey to end after 20 years of service since 2005 when Red Bull Racing was born. It is an unceremonious end to his career, in a typical Red Bull style of a mid-season change.
In his first public message, Horner reflected on the journey and thanked everyone, who worked with him. “After an incredible journey of twenty years together, it is with a heavy heart that today I say goodbye to the Team I have absolutely loved,” wrote Horner. “Every one of you, the amazing people at the factory, have been the heart and soul of everything that we have achieved.
“Win and lose, every step of the way, we have stood by each other as one and I will never forget that. It’s been a privilege being part of and leading this epic Team and I am so proud of our collective accomplishments and you all. Thanks to the amazing partners and fans who enabled us to go racing. Your support has helped grow the team from its humble beginnings to an F1 powerhouse that laid claim to 6 Constructors Championships and 8 Drivers Championships.
“Equally, thank you to our rivals, with whom there would be no racing at all. You’ve pushed us, challenged us, and enabled us to achieve accolades we never dreamed possible. The competition has made every victory sweeter and every setback an opportunity to develop and grow. Formula 1 is a sport built on relentless ambition, passion, and respect. The rivalries have been fierce, but the mutual drive to innovate and raise the bar is what has made this journey so special.
“It’s been an honour to be part of this incredible era of motorsport. I leave with immense pride in what we’ve achieved and also with what’s in the pipeline for 2026 — and huge respect for everyone who’s made F1 the pinnacle it is today. Thank You,” summed up Horner, who also left a stat to sign out. Here:
6 x Constructors
8 x Drivers
124 x Victories
12 x Sprint Wins
287 x Podiums
107 x Pole positions
100 x Fastest Laps
Here’s message to team: https://x.com/SkySportsF1/status/1943021782769823835
Here’s Red Bull curating a video: https://x.com/redbullracing/status/1943017543712845891
Here’s news about Christian Horner leaving
Here’s Max Verstappen on British GP
