Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has for the first time shed light on the dismissal of Christian Horner as team boss. The Briton was let go after the British Grand Prix, but the exact reasons for his departure were not immediately clear. In Belgium, Marko explains for the first time why Horner is now in search of a new job.
Christian Horner’s time at Red Bull has come to an end. The Briton was dismissed after the British Grand Prix and immediately replaced by Laurent Mekies. The Frenchman is at the helm of Red Bull for the first time during a race weekend in Belgium, but naturally, the sudden departure of his predecessor is still a topic of discussion. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko clarifies why Red Bull has specifically dismissed the Briton.
“The decision was made by Oliver Mintzlaff,” Marko begins in an interview with Sky Deutschland. Mintzlaff is the director of Red Bull Austria. “We informed Christian Horner about this on the Tuesday after the race in Silverstone in London and at the same time officially thanked him for his twenty years with us and for winning eight world titles.”
Lack of Results
After the announcement of the Brit’s departure, there was much speculation about the reasons why Horner had to leave the team. The now former team boss was embroiled in controversy in 2024 when a Red Bull employee accused him of inappropriate behavior. The departure of several key figures within the team, including top designer Adrian Newey, was also said to be connected to Horner’s exit.
However, according to Marko, there is one main reason why the Brit is now looking for a new job. “(Horner’s dismissal) was the result of various factors, but above all, the performance was not as good as it could have been,” said the advisor. Red Bull is currently fourth in the constructors’ championship, trailing McLaren, the leader, by 288 World Championship points. It also seems unlikely at this point that a fifth consecutive drivers’ title for Max Verstappen is on the cards.
Red Bull hopes to turn things around with Mekies. “Fortunately, we were able to bring Laurent Mekies into the family. His responsibilities will be significantly reduced, the focus will be more on racing,” Marko concluded.
