Christian Horner has formally departed Red Bull Racing after securing an extraordinary £80 million exit package, marking the end of his two-decade tenure with the Milton Keynes-based Formula One team.
The 51-year-old's departure was confirmed on Monday, following negotiations that concluded his contract which had been set to run until 2030.
The former team principal had been removed from operational responsibilities by Red Bull GmbH in July, shortly after the British Grand Prix.
His exit follows a turbulent period that began with allegations of inappropriate behaviour from a female colleague, though he was twice cleared of wrongdoing through internal investigations.
Christian Horner will have to pay nearly 45 per cent of his settlement to tax
|REUTERS
The substantial payout will trigger a hefty tax obligation, with analysis from OLBG indicating that Horner faces a bill of approximately £36 million to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
This represents a 45 per cent deduction at the additional rate of tax on the settlement.
JUST IN: Lamine Yamal's father accuses Ballon d'Or voters of causing 'moral harm' to his son as row erupts
After satisfying his tax obligations, Horner will retain roughly £44 million from the agreement.
Whilst termination payments typically avoid National Insurance contributions, the sheer magnitude of this settlement means the vast majority falls within the highest tax bracket.
This windfall will elevate Horner's personal wealth to an estimated £85 million, more than doubling his previous net worth of £40 million.
Christian Horner was removed from Red Bull earlier this year | REUTERSDespite this substantial increase, he remains far behind Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, whose net worth reached £1.27 billion in 2023 according to Forbes.
The £36 million destined for the Treasury represents a significant contribution to public finances.
OLBG's analysis reveals this sum could cover the training costs for 537 new NHS nurses, highlighting the scale of the tax revenue generated by such high-value settlements in the private sector.
**SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY GB NEWS SPORTS NEWSLETTER HERE**
Christian Horner's wife and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell stood by the 51-year-old amid Red Bull's investigation
| GETTYThe exceptional scale of the payout reflects Horner's multiple directorships within the Red Bull empire, including positions at Red Bull Racing, Red Bull Powertrains and Red Bull Advanced Technologies.
Reports indicate that the settlement could have been larger, but Horner accepted reduced terms to enable an earlier return to Formula 1 competition.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Christian Horner could return to Formula 1 next year
|GETTY
It was also reported that he could rejoin the paddock by late spring 2026, with the batteries now "recharged" following months spent as a full-time father.
Since leaving operational duties, Horner has attended concerts by Oasis and Coldplay whilst contemplating his next move in motorsport.