Let’s be real for a second. If you told a Formula 1 fan back in 2023 that Christian Horner—the man who basically was Red Bull Racing—would be gone by the middle of 2025, they’d have laughed you out of the paddock. He was the longest-serving team principal on the grid. He turned a mid-field energy drink project into a six-time Constructors' champion powerhouse.
But then February 2024 happened.
The story of why was christian horner fired from red bull isn't just about one single event. It’s a messy, multi-layered collapse involving internal power struggles, a leaked dossier that shook the sport, and a team that started to come apart at the seams just as they were supposed to be celebrating their greatest era.
The Allegations That Started the Fire
It all kicked off on February 5, 2024. News broke via Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that a female employee at Red Bull Racing had lodged a complaint against Horner. The allegations centered on "inappropriate, controlling behavior."
Red Bull GmbH, the parent company in Austria, didn't mess around. They immediately launched an independent investigation led by an external King’s Counsel. For weeks, the F1 world was obsessed. Was he staying? Was he going? Horner denied everything. He showed up to the RB20 car launch looking defiant, but the tension was thick enough to cut with a front wing endplate.
On February 28, 2024, Red Bull officially dismissed the grievance. Horner was cleared. Case closed, right?
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Wrong.
That Infamous Google Drive Leak
Literally 24 hours after he was cleared, an anonymous email was sent to hundreds of journalists, F1 officials, and rival team bosses. It contained a link to a Google Drive filled with screenshots of WhatsApp messages allegedly between Horner and the complainant.
Honestly, that was the turning point. While the messages were never officially verified by Red Bull, the public nature of the "sexting scandal" made the situation untenable for some of the team's biggest partners. Ford, who is joining Red Bull as an engine partner in 2026, was reportedly fuming. Their CEO, Jim Farley, even wrote a letter to Red Bull expressing "frustration" over the lack of transparency.
The Civil War: Thailand vs. Austria
To understand why was christian horner fired from red bull, you have to look at the boardroom. After the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022, a power vacuum opened up.
- The Thai Side: Yoovidhya, who owns 51% of the company, backed Horner to the hilt.
- The Austrian Side: Oliver Mintzlaff and the Mateschitz family seemed ready to move on.
This created a "Civil War" within the team. On one side, you had Horner and the majority shareholders. On the other, you had Helmut Marko and, crucially, Jos Verstappen (Max’s dad). Jos didn't hold back, telling the media that the team would "explode" if Horner stayed. It became a choice between the man who built the team and the superstar driver who won the trophies.
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The Performance Slide and the "Newey Factor"
Scandals are one thing, but losing on track is the cardinal sin in F1. Following the unrest, the "genius" of Red Bull's aerodynamics, Adrian Newey, announced his departure. Then came Jonathan Wheatley (Sporting Director) and Will Courtenay (Head of Strategy).
By early 2025, Red Bull was no longer the dominant force. McLaren and Ferrari were faster. Max Verstappen was getting frustrated. The "bulletproof" team Horner had spent 20 years building was leaking talent and points.
The Final Break: July 2025
The end finally came in July 2025, following the British Grand Prix. While he was technically "released from operational duties" rather than being unceremoniously dumped on the street, it was a sacking in all but name. Red Bull eventually confirmed his official departure in September 2025 after a settlement agreement worth a reported £80 million was reached.
Laurent Mekies, who had been running the sister team (Racing Bulls), was brought in to replace him.
It’s worth noting that Horner was never officially found "guilty" of the initial allegations by the internal investigation. He was cleared twice—once in the initial probe and again during the employee’s appeal. But the combination of the leaked messages, the loss of key staff like Newey, and the public rift with the Verstappen camp made his position impossible.
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What This Means for 2026
We’re now heading into the 2026 season, and the landscape is unrecognizable. Horner is currently sitting out his "gardening leave," though rumors are flying that he’s in advanced talks to buy a stake in Alpine.
If you're following the fallout, here is what you need to keep an eye on:
- The Ford Partnership: Oliver Mintzlaff recently gave Horner credit for setting up the Red Bull Powertrains division, but the 2026 engine is now under huge pressure to perform without the man who pitched the project to Ford.
- Max Verstappen's Future: Max stayed for 2026, but his loyalty was always to Helmut Marko and the performance of the car. If the post-Horner era sees the car slip further, expect the exit rumors to return.
- The Alpine Connection: If Horner returns as a part-owner of Alpine in April 2026, he becomes a direct rival to the team he spent two decades building.
The story isn't just about a HR complaint. It's about how the most successful partnership in modern racing history fell apart because of a mix of personal scandal and a corporate power struggle that nobody could win.
Next steps to stay updated:
Keep a close watch on the official FIA entry lists for the April 2026 races. If Horner’s name appears as a director for Alpine, it marks the most dramatic "second act" in F1 history. You should also monitor the Red Bull Powertrains testing data leaks; the 2026 engine performance will be the ultimate verdict on whether the team survived the Horner exit or if he was the glue holding the whole thing together.