Christian Horner settles scores after his ouster from Red Bull

Thanks by Red Bull A few days after the 2025 Silverstone Grand Prix, Christian Horner ended a career spanning more than twenty years in Formula 1At the helm of the team since its inception, he was one of the key figures who led the Austrian team to eight drivers' titles and six constructors' crowns. A sudden departure, occurring in a context already weakened by internal tensions and a decline in sporting performance. In the fourth episode of the series entitled A Bull With No Horns (A bull without horns), the former stable manager looks back on his departure and clearly points the finger at those he considers responsible. Facing the Netflix cameras, the Briton describes a moment of stunned silence. I feel a real sense of loss and pain. It all happened quite suddenly. I didn't really have the chance to say goodbye properly., he confides.

He admits to having felt disoriented: "I never imagined I'd find myself in this situation." Then he mentions his instinctive reaction to the announcement of his dismissal: "When you hear such shitty news, your first reaction is to say, 'Fuck them.'" A blunt statement, reflecting the shock of a leader convinced he had given everything to his team. "Something was taken from me without my having any say in the matter, something that was very dear to me.", he adds.

While the decision was surprising in its speed, it reflects a tense atmosphere that had been simmering for several months. In early 2024, Horner faced accusations of inappropriate behavior toward an employee. Cleared following an internal investigation, he remained in his position, but the affair exposed deep divisions within the organization.

At the same time, athletic performance gradually declined. If Max Verstappen had secured a fourth Formula 1 world title in 2024, but Red Bull's technical dominance had eroded in the face of the rise of McLaren, which had also taken the constructors' title. The trend did not reverse at the start of the 2025 season, with a car deemed more difficult to exploit.

Horner readily admits it: "This year's performances haven't been as good as in previous years." But he insists on his commitment: "I have always given only the best of myself. I did my best for my team, for the people I represented." Beyond the results, several major figures had left the ship over the months, fueling the feeling of an end of cycle.

The targeted Austrian management

Since his dismissal, one question has dominated: who really had the final say? The Verstappen camp, and Jos in particular, had publicly criticized Horner at the height of the 2024 crisis, even suggesting that the team risked implosion if the Briton remained in charge. Yet, Horner himself exonerates them. “[Max’s father] has never been my biggest fan. He’s been very clear about that. But I don’t think the Verstappens were responsible for this decision.” Horner is directing his accusations more towards the Austrian parent company. "I think this decision was made by Oliver Mintzlaff, with Helmut [Marko] advising from behind the scenes.", he says.

According to him, the turning point dates back to the disappearance of Dietrich Mateschitz in October 2022. "After Dietrich's death, things changed within the company. I think it was probably felt that I had perhaps too much control." A loaded statement, which suggests that beyond sporting performance, it was the redistribution of internal power that precipitated his departure.

Ironically, Helmut Marko also left the organization a few months later, in a still very tense atmosphere. This only reinforced the idea of ​​a profound reshuffling of the balance of power at the top of the group. As for Horner, he hasn't ruled out a return to Formula 1. Discussions are reportedly still underway for the Briton to become a shareholder in...AlpineWhile he acknowledges that the Red Bull chapter is closed, he admits that the idea of ​​returning to the paddock is still on his mind. "under certain conditions" continues to interest him, leaving room for doubt about a possible new chapter in his career.

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