Christian Horner has been removed from his position as Red Bull’s Formula 1 CEO and team principal and replaced by Laurent Mekies.
Horner has headed the Red Bull F1 team since the energy drinks company bought Jaguar and rebranded it for the 2005 season.
He led Red Bull to two dominant periods, first with Sebastian Vettel winning four straight titles from 2010-13 and most recently with Max Verstappen doing the same from 2021-24.
However, it has been overhauled by McLaren as the team to beat across 2024 and 2025. And since the passing of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in late 2022, Horner’s time as team boss has been increasingly beset by controversy.
There has been a growing internal division between Horner and significant people around Verstappen, including Max’s father Jos and Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.
In addition to that power struggle, Horner has watched key personnel like technical guru Adrian Newey and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley leave.
He was also embroiled in a personal scandal last year that led to a Red Bull investigation, although Horner remained in his position throughout and was then kept on when it was complete.
It is unclear what sparked Horner’s shock exit.
“We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years," a statement from Red Bull CEO of corporate projects and investments Oliver Mintzlaff said.
"With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula 1.
"Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history.”
Laurent Mekies has been named Horner's successor as Red Bull Racing CEO. Alan Permane takes over in charge of Red Bull's second team, Racing Bulls, from Mekies.
"The last year and a half has been an absolute privilege to lead the team with Peter [Bayer, Racing Bulls CEO]," said Mekies.
"It has been an amazing adventure to contribute to the birth of Racing Bulls together with all our talented people.
"The spirit of the whole team is incredible, and I strongly believe that this is just the beginning.
"Alan is the perfect man to take over now and continue our path. He knows the team inside out and has always been an important pillar of our early successes."
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Horner's last race in charge of Red Bull was the British Grand Prix. Verstappen qualified on pole but had a half-spin in the rain-hit race and struggled for pace, finishing fifth.
He is third in the world championship, 69 points off the lead, while Red Bull is a distant fourth in the constructors' contest as its second car has barely scored points this year - first with Liam Lawson in the opening two races, and then with Yuki Tsunoda since.
