Horner's Departure from Red Bull Marks End of an Era for Formula One

The departure of Christian Horner as Red Bull's team principal marks the end of an era in Formula One as well as the most difficult moment in the team's history.  It has an impact that will be felt throughout the sport, both in terms of how it played out and what happens next, as the squad Horner established and led to such incredible success confronts an unclear future. 

Horner has been with Red Bull since the team was established in 2005 from the ashes of Jaguar, which was in serious disarray when Red Bull purchased it.  Horner led the team as it grew from 450 employees with no wins to 1,500 today, winning eight drivers' titles and six constructors' championships, and becoming one of the most spectacular success stories in Formula One history. 

Horner has never shied away from the spotlight and has reveled in the role of disruptor, relishing the criticism his team received for being financed by an energy drink brand rather than a big old motor racing powerhouse.

"We are different at Red Bull.  "You won't see anyone wearing a suit and tie here; it's more jeans and a T-shirt," he remarked of the atmosphere he created.  "We don't conform, we call it as we see it, and we are not afraid to have an opinion."

That approach did not endear him to some in the paddock. Still, when combined with his acute understanding that F1 was all about bringing in the right people and allowing them to operate as efficiently as possible, it resulted in enormous success. 

Yet, in the space of less than two years (a bagatelle in F1 terminology), so much has unraveled at Red Bull.  Seventeen months ago, as the team entered 2024 with world champion Max Verstappen on a three-title winning streak, Horner was accused of inappropriate behaviour by a female colleague.

Horner has always denied any misconduct and has been exonerated by an independent investigation. Despite what appear to be leaked text exchanges between Horner and the employee, he has been supported by his wife, former Spice Girl Geri Horner, throughout. 

However, as the dispute escalated, it revealed yawning divisions inside the squad, not to mention an internal power struggle between Horner and his parent company, Red Bull GmbH, as well as between Horner and Verstappen's father, former Formula One driver Jos Verstappen, who openly called for Horner's dismissal.

Helmut Marko, the team's longtime motorsport advisor and a friend of the Verstappens, was once threatened with suspension, prompting Verstappen to threaten to leave.  By Formula One standards, this was chaos. 

Horner's position appeared to be hanging by a thread.  Nonetheless, he rode it out, and Red Bull GmbH backed down as the controversy around the claims subsided, and Horner retained the support of Chalerm Yoovidhya, the Thai tycoon who owns a 51% stake in the company.

At the British Grand Prix last weekend, there was no indication that Yoovidhya's stance had altered, and the parent corporation was poised to intervene.  At the heart of the choice, it is impossible not to view Verstappen, a once-in-a-generation talent, as the pivot around which all other maneuvering has occurred. 

The world champion has regularly voiced his desire for serenity and a singular focus on his car's performance.  He has been disappointed on both fronts.

Over the last two years, Red Bull has lost key individuals, most notably Rob Marshall as chief engineering officer, followed by Adrian Newey, the team's genius designer, regarded as the finest of his time, who joined Aston Martin, and Jonathan Wheatley, the sporting director. 

Amid all of this, the car's performance deteriorated.  Last year, only Verstappen's intense drive and an early-season lead were enough to propel him over the finish line.  McLaren has outperformed Red Bull this season.  Verstappen's title hopes have already faded, and Red Bull's second driver, Yuki Tsunoda, frequently fails to gain points.

Verstappen is disgruntled, and while he is under contract until 2028, other teams, including Mercedes, are actively attempting to sign him away. 

Red Bull's decision to remove Horner might be an attempt to keep him on board, to pacify Verstappen and his father in the face of Mercedes' demands, or, as some have speculated, Verstappen has already made a deal and Horner is paying the price.

Verstappen's calculation is quite simple: he wants to be in the best vehicle possible and will weigh his options accordingly.  Next season, key rule changes will focus on new engines, where it is claimed Mercedes has already stolen a march. At the same time, Red Bull has committed for the first time in their history to manufacturing their engines, a tremendously difficult and demanding endeavor with no promise of success. Rumours claim they are behind the curve.

This left Red Bull, a once-dominant force, with a dreadful car, in danger of losing their talismanic driver, about to start another new age without the man who had taken them so far, and in a state of turmoil.  As the once-mighty Williams team realized, success in Formula One is never certain, and Red Bull may now feel themselves on a razor's edge.