Christian Horner sacked: Martin Brundle says Max Verstappen more likely to stay at Red Bull after team principal sacked | F1 News
Sky Sports F1Martin Brundle thinks that Max Verstappen is “more likely” to stay in Red Bull after Christian Horner was dismissed by the team on Wednesday.
Horner, who will be replaced by Laurent Mekies of Racing Bulls, had been Red Bull Boss since the team’s foundation in 2005, supervising six manufacturers’ championships and eight drivers.
The 51 -year -old has not yet commented on his dismissal, but Brundle said “no reason” was given to Horner when he was informed of his departure.
“It is not completely unexpectedly, given the problems of the team. I am quite sad about it. I consider Christian as a friend and he did an incredible job for 20 years Sky Sports News.
“He won a lot of world races and championships for the pilots and the team. He took it from what was the team of Stewart and Jaguar, in a massive campus in Milton Keynes and [had] Lots of success and a huge trophy cabinet.
“It is not too difficult to feel in the F1 paddock and to observe and hear that things were not particularly pink.”
Please use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Craig Slater of Sky Sports F1 breaks down why, after 20 years in charge, the director of the team Christian Horner left Red Bull
Brundle suggests that the death of the co-founder of Red Bull Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022 caused a long power struggle which has now led to Horner’s dismissal almost three years.
“Dietrich was the owner of 49% Red Bull who started with the Yoovidhya family,” he said.
“He was in charge. Nothing has happened without Mateschitz reporting it. He was the absolute leader of this group. Since his death, it has started to go wrong.
Horner faced a turbulent 18 months on and outside the track after allegations of inappropriate behavior launched against him in February 2024 by a colleague were rejected following a call last summer. Horner denied the accusations throughout.
Please use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
The director of the Red Bull team, Christian Horner, was seen by chatting with Jos Verstappen in the paddock at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2025.
Last year, a public quarrel between the father of Max Verstappen, Jos and Horner, continued throughout the year, leading to question points around the future of Max to Red Bull.
This coincided with the fact that Red Bull no longer had the car to beat on the track while their rivals caught up in 2024, although Verstappen wanted to win a fourth consecutive pilot title.
But, last month, Mercedes’ boss Toto Wolff revealed that he had “conversations” with the Verstappen camp for a shock move to the silver arrows.
Please use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Christian Horner told Silverstone that Red Bull should prove that they can improve their performance to ensure that Max Verstappen stays
Brundle said: “It may be more likely that verses [Jos and Max] will stay there. I think it has become quite personal.
“Each point, Podium and Victory Max have through his own genius driving, is in a Red Bull car. He often said he wanted to see his career in Red Bull if he could. They are launching their own engine for the first time next year, in what will be the biggest change in the history of F1 of the car and the electric unit, at the same time.
“Christian was completely in the headquarters of this aspect of the team. Max has an exit clause based on the place where he is in the world championship at the end of this month.
“Does that mean that it is more likely to go or stay? I can only assume that it means that it is more likely to stay in the team.”
Please use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Christian Horner gave a surprise answer when asked for a “ plan b ” if Max Verstappen was to leave Red Bull during his last press conference as director of the team
Brundle: Mekies did a great job at Racing Bulls
Red Bull will start a new chapter of the next F1 race in Belgium on July 25 to 27, live Sky Sports F1, As Mekies only becomes the second boss in charge of the outfit.
Mekies joined Red Bull’s sister team, then called Toro Rosso in 2006 as an engineer, then joined the FIA ​​as a security director in 2014 and assistant race director in 2017.
He went to Ferrari in 2018 as a sports director before returning to the Red Bull family in early 2024 as team director at Racing Bulls.
Please use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
In May, Christian Horner minimized speculation binding it to a move to Ferrari
“We see people like that becoming more and more becoming a team boss now,” said Brundle.
“Look at the incredible work that Endrea Stella does in McLaren, James Vowles at Williams – people with technical training are at the headquarters of this aspect.
“Laurent did an excellent job at Racing Bulls and they saw it in the Red Bull group and immediately moved this.
“Jonathan Wheatley, who would have believed this work, moved to Sauber, who will become Audi, and perhaps the fact that he imagined the work of Christian sent this.
“Alan Permanent, which takes control of Mekies at Racing Bulls, also has a huge experience of the operational team of an F1 team.”
F1 takes a brief break before the season resumed the Belgian Grand Prix while the Sprint format returns, live on Sky Sports F1 on July 25 to 27. Stream Sky Sports with now – no contract, cancel at any time.
