Christian Horner is set to receive over £80 million as a payout from Red Bull following his unexpected removal from the Formula 1 team. After spending two decades leading the team, the 51-year-old was replaced by Laurent Mekies as team principal and chief executive after the British Grand Prix. Despite his contract running until 2030, Horner was officially terminated as a director from all related UK-registered companies.
The settlement deal between Horner and Red Bull will see him compensated with more than £80 million. He will also have to undergo a period of gardening leave before potentially joining another team in the middle of the upcoming season. However, options for his next move seem limited, as Flavio Briatore has ruled out any involvement with Alpine, and there is no current interest from new team Cadillac.
Having joined Red Bull at just 31 years old in 2005, Horner led the team to great success, including eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championship wins. However, his relationship with Red Bull’s Austrian bosses became strained in recent years, leading to his departure. Formula 1 fans can now enjoy live coverage of every practice, qualifying, and race with Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, saving £192 and including access to over 100 TV channels, Netflix, and Discovery+.
Mekies, Horner’s successor, has quickly made an impact with back-to-back victories for Max Verstappen, showcasing Red Bull’s potential under new leadership. The team is set to transition into a works outfit next year, developing their own engines in partnership with Ford, a project initiated by Horner. Verstappen’s manager has hinted at exploring other options if the team fails to deliver a competitive car by 2026.
