Sports · Motorsport · 1 hr ago
Christian Horner says Red Bull exit was painful after 20 years
Christian Horner says his Red Bull departure felt brutal and sad after he was dismissed as the team's chief in July 2025, ending a 20-year stint.
His former partner Beverley Allen died from eye cancer a week earlier, and Horner said he focused first on supporting their daughter, Olivia, who was grieving her mother.
Horner said his dismissal was about the team's performance and its future, not the 2024 allegations that he had sent inappropriate messages to a female employee.
He denied the claims and was cleared in two internal investigations.
His wife, Geri Halliwell, supported him during the scandal, he said.
During Horner's time at Red Bull, the team won six constructors' championships, and Max Verstappen won four drivers' titles in a row.
Red Bull has since won two races with its own engine, including one in Singapore, and Horner said the company's CEO recently thanked him for his work on it.
Christian Horner says leaving Red Bull in July 2025 was painful and felt particularly brutal.
He led the team for 20 years before being dismissed as team principal and CEO.
Horner said the company may have wanted a different direction and that he may have been seen as having too much influence.
He linked changes at Red Bull to the death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.
Horner said his departure was made more painful by the death of his former partner, Beverley Allen, a week earlier.
- Who
- Christian Horner, former Red Bull team principal and CEO.
- What
- Horner has described his Red Bull departure as painful and brutal.
- When
- He was dismissed in July 2025 and discussed the departure in interviews published in October 2026.
- Where
- Red Bull’s Formula One team.
- Why
- Horner said the company may have wanted a different direction and that his influence may have been viewed as too great. He said his dismissal was focused on performance and the future.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz died, after which Horner said the organisation became different.
Red Bull investigated allegations of inappropriate behaviour against Horner, and two investigations cleared him.
Red Bull dismissed Horner as team principal and CEO.
Horner’s former partner Beverley Allen died from eye cancer.
Horner discussed his departure in interviews with the Guardian and Autosport.
- Red Bull tenure
- 20 years
- Departure
- Dismissed in July 2025
- Mateschitz’s death
- October 2022
- Horner’s daughter
- Olivia
- Former partner
- Beverley Allen
- Red Bull titles during Horner’s tenure
- Six constructor championships
3 sources
Christian Horner opens up on Red Bull F1 exit: “Perhaps it was perceived I had too much influence over the team”
Christian Horner calls Red Bull sacking - with £67m pay-out - 'brutal' after his ex-wife died just a week before, as he hails new wife Geri Halliwell for helping him through his sex texts scandal
Christian Horner: ‘Not all teams act that way. You don’t see the same brutality as when I left’
What people are saying
It felt particularly brutal and sad to finish in that manner.
I think the company just wanted to go in a different direction, or perhaps it was perceived I had too much influence over the team
I didn’t really process it till a month later because, in the immediate aftermath, I focused on supporting my daughter [Olivia] through a hideous period.
My wife was a pillar of support throughout and I just had to believe in the process.