Christian Horner has finally opened up about his departure from Red Bull. In an interview with The Times, the former team principal claimed that Red Bull no longer has the same 'vibe' since he left the helm in July last year. Horner, who spent 20 years with the Milton Keynes-based team, admitted he still doesn't fully understand the reasons behind his sacking, despite reports of a hefty pay-off ranging from £50 million to £80 million.
“It demonstrates that you’ve done nothing wrong,” Horner said, referring to the size of his settlement. “They just don’t want you any more. If somebody’s prepared to pay that much money for you not to be thereg” He then paused before delivering a sharp assessment: “And I think if you look at that team 12 months down the line, it’s lost its mojo, its presence, its vibe.”
Horner suspects he was seen as too domineering and that the team was losing its identity. “I was told that it was more Christian Horner Racing than Red Bull Racing,” he revealed. He also dismissed the notion that performance decline was the main cause. “I was never given a clear explanation other than that they felt the performance had slipped a little. Even though at the [previous] race we’d been on pole position and leading the British Grand Prix; had it not been for the weather, we’d probably have won it.”
Horner's exit has undoubtedly left a deep wound for the team he built into a dominant force in the 2010s. Since his departure, Red Bull under Max Verstappen remain competitive, but no longer as fearsome as before. The 2025 season has seen teams like McLaren and Ferrari apply more consistent pressure, especially in the first half of the campaign.
Interestingly, Horner doesn't deny that the controversy involving a female employee in 2024 influenced his position. Two internal investigations took place, though he was never found guilty. However, the shadow of that scandal seemed to trigger tensions within the team, culminating in the sudden sacking of the principal.
In his statement, Horner also hinted that Red Bull currently lacks a central figure capable of unifying the vision. “I’m not at liberty to discuss the minutiae of my departure, but it’s clear this team is no longer what it was,” he asserted. This comment has sparked speculation that the relationship between Horner and Red Bull management, particularly the Yoovidhya family, had been strained long before the official split.
For F1 fans, Horner's remarks mirror the dynamic internal politics of a top team. Red Bull, once known for its hard-working culture and strategic brilliance, must now adapt to a new era without the figure who made its name. Can they rediscover the lost 'vibe'? Only time will tell, but Horner's words clearly illustrate that his departure was not just a change of seat, but a shift in identity.
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