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Red Bull has sacked Christian Horner aft 20 years, 1 twelvemonth connected from enactment texts scandal.
A connection from Red Bull GmbH said: "Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from contiguous (9 July) and has appointed Laurent Mekies arsenic CEO of Red Bull Racing.”
It was reported earlier this greeting that the vigor drink company's absorption was negotiating with Horner astir terminating his contract.
The erstwhile racing operator has served arsenic squad rule and CEO of Red Bull Racing successful the Formula One since 2005.
Dutch writer Erik van Haren wrote connected social media: "The weaponry has dropped astatine Red Bull Racing. Team brag and CEO Christian Horner has been sacked aft much than 20 years. Staff successful Milton Keynes person conscionable been informed."
Horner's out. (Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Red Bull Group CEO Oliver Mintzlaff said: “We would similar to convey Christian Horner for his exceptional enactment implicit the past 20 years.
“With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, helium has been instrumental successful establishing Red Bull Racing arsenic 1 of the astir palmy and charismatic teams successful Formula One. Thank you for everything, Christian, and you volition everlastingly stay an important portion of our squad history.”
In the 2025 play truthful far, the squad person endured a beauteous pugnacious run with a operator change aboriginal on and it's been a troubling twelvemonth and a fractional for Horner some connected and disconnected the contention track.
And portion Red Bull trails down the likes of Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes, the aboriginal of prima Max Verstappen continues to beryllium discussed successful the media, contempt being nether declaration until 2028. His father, Jos, claimed successful Bahrain past twelvemonth that Red Bull would 'explode' if Horner remained successful his role.
The four-time satellite champion has lone won of the 12 races staged this season, finishing 5th successful Sunday's British Grand Prix astatine Silverstone.
Christian and woman Geri. ( Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Horner's dismissal comes 17 months aft helium was accused by a pistillate workfellow of 'inappropriate behaviour'. The 51-year-old was doubly exonerated of the claims by the Formula One team’s genitor company, Red Bull GmBH.
Married to erstwhile Spice Girl Geri, the ex F1 brag has ever denied the allegations against him.
An entreaty against the archetypal probe of Horner was thrown retired past August arsenic Red Bull added that 'its interior process has concluded'.
Within 24 hours of the grievance initially being dismissed successful the February, hundreds of WhatsApp messages and a fig of images allegedly exchanged betwixt Horner and the pistillate who complained were leaked.
While helium was cleared, helium mislaid a fig of cardinal figures astatine Red Bull.
