Christian Horner has formally stepped down as director of several Red Bull UK companies, confirming his exit weeks after being unexpectedly relieved from his role as Formula 1 team principal. This development marks the final stage in ending Horner’s involvement with Red Bull’s F1 operations, following his removal in July shortly after the British Grand Prix.
Details Surrounding Horner’s Removal and Company Restructuring
The British racing figure was dismissed from his position as Red Bull team principal and CEO after more than two decades at the Milton Keynes headquarters, as shareholders decided to pursue a new direction. The Austrian parent firm sought to reduce Horner’s broad responsibilities, appointing Laurent Mekies, previously Racing Bulls’ team boss, to take direct charge of the F1 team.
Despite Horner’s immediate operational exit, his name remained on official records as director of multiple Red Bull entities in the UK, including Red Bull Racing, Red Bull Technology, Red Bull Powertrains, and Red Bull Powertrains 2026, the latter managing the Honda-built engines used currently and planned powertrains for 2026.
Recent filings at Companies House, however, confirm that within the past 48 hours, Horner has been removed as director from all these companies, indicating that formal severance terms have now been agreed upon with the 51-year-old racing leader. Meanwhile, Stefan Salzer, Red Bull’s longstanding global head of HR, was added to these entities as a director during the administrative transition.
Legacy and Internal Challenges During Horner’s Tenure
Under Horner’s management, Red Bull secured eight drivers’ championships—four each by Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel—and achieved six constructors’ titles, establishing the team among Formula 1’s elite forces. Despite these successes, Horner’s final years were marked by internal tension, exacerbated by an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour against an employee last year, from which he was cleared.
This controversy deepened mistrust between Horner and Red Bull’s Austrian ownership, who became uneasy over the extensive influence he had gained across the organization.
New Leadership Direction for Red Bull’s Racing Operations
Following Horner’s ousting, Laurent Mekies was appointed to focus exclusively on the racing team leadership role, while Alan Permane was promoted from racing director to head the Racing Bulls division. These appointments highlight Red Bull’s intention to restructure and streamline control within its F1 operations to regain stability.