During his 20-year tenure at Red Bull, team principal Christian Horner played a key role in helping Max Verstappen become a four-time F1 world champion and a dominant force in the sport.
It’s the end of an era, and Max Verstappen isn’t letting long-time team principal Christian Horner quietly fade into the background.
In a heartfelt tribute, the four-time Formula 1 world champion reflected on the incredible partnership he shared with Horner, who played a pivotal role in shaping Red Bull into a dominant force in the sport.
“From my first race win to four World Championships, we’ve shared incredible successes,” Verstappen wrote on social media.
“Winning memorable races and breaking countless records. Thank you for everything, Christian!”
This came after Horner’s surprising Red Bull exit after being with the team for two decades. Laurent Mekies will step in to replace Horner, while Alan Permane will take over as head of operations.
Since joining in 2005, Horner guided the team to eight world championships—four with Sebastian Vettel and four with Verstappen—and six Constructors' Championships, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s most successful team principals.
Verstappen, who joined the Red Bull senior team in 2016, has gone on to become one of the most dominant drivers in F1 history. He holds records for most wins in a season (19), most consecutive wins (10), and most points in a season (575), among others.
However, despite his dominance, Red Bull’s performance has dipped this season as he is third in the drivers’ standings with 165 points, behind leader Oscar Piastri (234) and McLaren teammate Lando Norris (226).
The British Grand Prix, where the 26-year-old Dutchman finished fifth and conquered by Lando, marked Christian Horner’s final race overseeing Red Bull.