Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner was “threatened” just weeks before he was removed from operational duties at Red Bull.
The 51-year-old was shockingly removed as CEO and team principal after 20 years of leading the team on Wednesday.
He returned to the Milton Keynes factory to bid an emotional farewell to the team who have worked for him since Red Bull’s inception in 2005.
Horner will now be replaced by Laurent Mekies, who has been promoted from the sister team, Racing Bulls.
Christian Horner was removed from all operational duties effective immediately
GETTYIt has now been revealed that whilst Christian Horner held multiple senior positions, he was involved in a war of words with Red Bull’s majority shareholder, Chalerm Yoovidhya.
Horner oversaw the technical and engine departments, as well as the marketing department.
When he was removed from his marketing role, he was reportedly unhappy. According to Bild, when he tried to contest the decision, Yoovidhya threatened to cut off any contact, forcing Horner to back down.
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The 74-year-old Thai businessman owns a 51 per cent stake in Red Bull GmbH. He is the son of Chaloe, who co-created the energy drink, and is thought to have a significant influence on the F1 team.
Horner’s contract was not due to expire until the end of 2030, leaving the 51-year-old in line for a considerable payout.
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Chalerm Yoovidhya threatened to cut all contact with the Red Bull boss
Getty
While the firing came as a shock to most, Horner’s time at Red Bull was not without controversy.
Last year, he was involved in a scandal at Red Bull after a female employee accused him of inappropriate behaviour. However, after an internal investigation, he was cleared of any wrongdoing. Whilst an appeal to the decision was lodged, it was also dismissed.
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The scandal put the whole team under intense scrutiny, with Jos Verstappen, father of reigning world champion Max, publicly calling for Horner to be removed from the head of the team.
It has also emerged that Horner was informed of his sacking face-to-face by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko and global sports director Oliver Mintzlaff. The Briton was left stunned by the news.
Max Verstappen has struggled this season and sits a distant third in the championship
ReutersThe Red Bull team will not have long to recover from the shock news, as they will have to take to the grid with new boss Laurent Mekies for the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend.
The Milton Keynes outfit will be hoping for a better second half of the season. They currently sit fourth in the constructors’ championship, and Max Verstappen is sitting a distant third in the drivers' championship, a long way away from his McLaren rivals.