The Red Bull Team Principal Makes an Exit
The time has come to say farewell to Red Bull’s now former team principal, Christian Horner. The Red Bull squad announced that he will be replaced by the Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies. Mekies earned the go-ahead to replace the man who has run the team for so long, as he has proved his skill leading the sister outfit of the Racing Bulls. Now, Alan Permane has been promoted from his position as the Racing Director to take Mekies’ place. Mekies was delegated to rebrand the Racing Bulls at the beginning of the 2024 season, restructuring the team alongside CEO Pete Bayer. The pair continued to make the sister team stand out in the points and have proved to be a stepping stone to earn a spot with Red Bull Racing.
After more than 20 years guiding the franchise of Red Bull Racing, Horner has hung up his hat, making his departure immediate, even though it is mid-season. He joined the team, becoming the youngest team principal in Formula 1 history at just 31 years old. Horner has assisted Red Bull in six World Constructors' Championship titles between 2010 and 2023, as well as eight World Drivers’ Championships. From 2005 to 2025, Horner has been working to guide the racers at Red Bull. He has also helped the team earn 124 Grand Prix wins, which is the second-most as a team principal in Formula 1 history.
It has been a difficult season for the team, with only four wins in the 26 races so far in the 2025 season. Red Bull has not only struggled to keep up in the races but also remains stuck in fourth place in the Teams’ Championship, holding 172 points to their name. This is 288 points behind the flying McLaren leaders, and not a great look for the team that has one of the fastest drivers in history, Max Verstappen. The Dutch driver responded on Instagram to the departure of his principal, writing, “From my first race win to four world championships, we have shared incredible successes. Winning memorable races and breaking countless records. Thank you for everything, Christian!” Who doesn’t love a good outro, and this one seems to take the cake. Good luck to the man who has dedicated so much to the team he loves!
