Christian Horner was in tears after leaving Red Bull following two decades at the helm.
The 51-year-old's departure on Wednesday marks the end of an era for the Milton Keynes-based Formula One team he helped build since its inception in 2005.
Red Bull GmbH confirmed the news in a statement: "Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today (Wednesday 9 July 2025) and has appointed Laurent Mekies as CEO of Red Bull Racing."
Red Bull Group CEO Oliver Mintzlaff acknowledged Horner's contributions: "We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years.
Christian Horner was in tears after leaving Red Bull following two decades at the helm
PA
"With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula One."
Horner travelled to the team's Milton Keynes headquarters on Wednesday morning to deliver the news personally to a stunned workforce of 1,500 employees at 10am, according to PA.
Speaking in a room showcasing Red Bull's championship-winning cars, with many more staff joining via Microsoft Teams, Horner became emotional during his address.
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Christian Horner has lost his job at Red Bull after 20 years in the role of team principalGETTY"The decision came as a shock to myself. I have had a chance to reflect over the last 12 hours and I wanted to stand in front of all of you to break this news and just express my gratitude to each and every single member of the team that has given so much during the 20 and a half years that I have been here," he said.
His voice broke during the speech, prompting applause from the assembled staff.
Horner's exit follows a turbulent period that began 17 months ago when he faced accusations of "inappropriate behaviour" from a female colleague.
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Whilst he was cleared of wrongdoing following an internal investigation at last year's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, hundreds of WhatsApp messages allegedly exchanged between Horner and the complainant were subsequently leaked.
The team principal, who is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, maintained his innocence throughout and was exonerated for a second time by an independent KC last August.
However, the controversy cost him several key allies within the organisation, with design guru Adrian Newey, chief designer Rob Marshall and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley all departing the team.
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Horner's legacy includes overseeing Red Bull's first world championship in 2010, with Sebastian Vettel securing four consecutive titles under his leadership.
Following Mercedes' period of dominance, he guided the team back to the summit with Max Verstappen, who claimed four straight championships from 2021.
The 2023 season saw Red Bull win 21 of 22 races, with Verstappen achieving a record 10 consecutive victories.
Christian Horner oversaw great success at Red Bull during his time in chargeGETTYVerstappen paid tribute on social media: "From my first race win, to four world championships, we have shared incredible successes.
"Winning memorable races and breaking countless records. Thank you for everything, Christian."
However, the team's recent form has declined significantly, with Verstappen winning just four of the last 26 races and Red Bull currently sitting fourth in the constructors' standings.