In a surprising shake-up, Christian Horner has been removed from his dual role as Chief Executive Officer and team principal of Red Bull Racing after two decades at the helm. The wider Formula 1 paddock is still trying to absorb the news, but veteran commentator Martin Brundle insists insiders sensed a change was coming long before the formal statement.
Horner will be succeeded by Laurent Mekies, who steps in as both team principal and CEO, while Alan Permane takes charge of the newly minted Racing Bulls programme; together, they symbolize a fresh chapter for the Milton Keynes operation. Yet his exit raises questions about Red Bulls strategic direction in an increasingly competitive field.
Brundle, who speaks from years of paddock experience as a Sky Sports analyst and former driver, described the atmosphere as somber, noting that although the announcement feels “sad,” it fits a trend of gradual rising tensions that observers had quietly recorded over recent months.
During Horner’s leadership, Red Bull amassed an extraordinary haul of drivers and constructors titles. Nevertheless, performance during the 2025 campaign has dipped, slipping down the classification and fuelling speculation about the teams technical choices and the long-term prospects of superstar Max Verstappen.
Internal turbulence at Red Bull has intensified since co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz died and several senior staff left, ultimately pushing Christian Horner out the door. A string of off-track scandals added to the strain and turned the garage into a pressure-cooker, forcing a leadership shake-up that no one inside the team wanted.
With the Formula One calendar moving forward, the paddock is watching the revamped executive group to see how it steadies an upset ship. Many observers expect fresh headlines, since this moment could redefine Red Bull’s identity and influence in the sport for years to come.