After serving the role of Team Principal for 20 years, On July 9, 2025, Red Bull Racing announced the immediate dismissal of Christian Horner as the official Team Principal and CEO.
Horner’s Tenure
Horner has held the title since the beginning of the team’s Formula 1 journey in 2005.
His tenure was instrumental in driving the team to six Constructors’ Championships and eight Drivers’ Championships, while moulding drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
This decision comes after a challenging 2025 season for Red Bull, currently fourth in the Constructors Standings the team is struggling to return to its old dominant ways while attempting to compete with teams like McLaren and Mercedes.
“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 spokesperson.
Managerial shifts
Racing Bulls Team Principal, Laurent Mekies was immediately announced as Horner’s replacement as Team Principal and CEO.
Meanwhile, Alan Permane, the current Racing Director at Racing Bulls has been promoted to Team Principal for the sister team.
What does this mean?
This shift aims to bring Red Bull back to the top, Mekies’ tenure as the Team principal will focus on bringing the once dominant team on par with its competitors.
This mid-season leadership change comes at a pivotal moment for Red Bull, which is also navigating technical personnel shifts and heightened competition.
The replacement reflects the team’s aim to regain momentum ahead of the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix.
Note: According to RBR Daily, Chief Marketing Officer Oliver Hughes and Group Director of Communications Paul Smith have also left RedBull. This is not the first time this year that Red Bull employees have left the team or been poached.