Red Bull could sensationally sack Christian Horner following this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, according to reports.
Horner has been Red Bull team principal since they joined the Formula 1 grid in 2005 and helped transform them into serial champions.
Over the past 20 years, they’ve won six constructors’ championships and eight drivers’ titles through Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
Things aren’t going well in 2025 however, as McLaren have won five of the first six grand prix, with the title race set to be between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Verstappen did triumph in Japan, but the Dutchman has been very vocal about the difficulties of driving the RB21, while his manager Raymond Vermeulen was furious following a poor showing in Bahrain.
Horner also backed the decision to axe Sergio Perez for Liam Lawson but this backfired spectacularly and the Kiwi was dropped after just two races – not that replacement Yuki Tsunoda has fared much better.
It is said Red Bull’s owners have always been divided over Horner and now, according to reports from Austria, they are strongly considering sacking him after two very successful decades at the helm.
A decision could even be made as soon as next week, depending on the performance at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with the team bringing a significant upgrade package to the Imola circuit in Italy.
The last year has proven incredibly difficult for the team principal, husband of Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, both on and off the track.
The 51-year-old faced pressure to resign after being accused of ‘inappropriate and coercive behaviour’ by a female employee of Red Bull, allegations that were eventually dismissed after an investigation.
F1 2025 championship standings
Drivers:
- Oscar Piastri – 131pts
- Lando Norris – 115pts
- Max Verstappen – 99pts
- George Russell – 93pts
Constructors:
- McLaren – 246pts
- Mercedes – 141pts
- Red Bull – 105pts
- Ferrari – 94pts
The saga seemed to increase tensions between Horner and Verstappen’s father Jos, and the team were further shaken when design genius Adrian Newey left to join Aston Martin.
Newey’s departure coincided with rival cars catching up and combined with the disastrous form of Perez, whom Horner had handed a new contract to, Red Bull collapsed to third in the constructors’ standings.
Who could replace Christian Horner as Red Bull team principal?
Red Bull have already identified two potential replacements for Horner, one being Oliver Oakes, who resigned as Alpine boss last week after just 10 months in charge.
The other is Franz Tost, who ran Red Bull’s sister-team Racing Bulls for 18 years before leaving at the end of 2023 amid rumours of a rift with Horner.
All this comes amid increasing speculation that Verstappen could trigger the release clause in his contract and leave the team he’s raced for his entire F1 career.
Aston Martin, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, are prepared to offer the 27-year-old a package worth £226million.
‘It wouldn’t surprise me if Horner left’
Former F1 race engineer Julien Simon-Chautemps, who worked with 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen, thinks Horner is not safe from the sack, telling OLBG:
‘Nothing is impossible. He’s the longest-standing team principal in the pit lane at the moment. But last year, it was very difficult for him. He was in a very dangerous situation.
‘As long as he has the support from the shareholders at Red Bull, he will be in a safe position. But again, this is F1, everyone has contracts, but they mean as much as the job security implies.
‘It wouldn’t surprise me if Horner left. Formula 1 is a fast-moving environment, and a lot can happen very quickly. We’ll have to wait and see.’
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