Christian Horner is set to receive a substantial pay-off exceeding £80 million from Red Bull following his sudden removal from the Formula 1 team leadership. After a two-decade tenure as team principal, Horner was unexpectedly ousted in July.
He was replaced by Laurent Mekies as team principal and chief executive after the British Grand Prix, but remained under contract until a settlement was reached with Red Bull GmbH. Recent filings to Companies House confirmed Horner’s official termination as a director of all related UK-registered companies.
Reports indicate that Horner, whose contract was scheduled until 2030, will be compensated with more than £80 million as part of the confidential settlement agreement. Following F1 customs, he will undergo a period of gardening leave before potentially joining another team midway through the upcoming season.
Despite his successful tenure at Red Bull, which saw multiple championship wins, Horner’s relationship with Austrian management strained in recent years. The departure signifies a new chapter for the team, now under the leadership of Mekies, who has already achieved significant success with back-to-back victories for Max Verstappen.
Red Bull’s transition to becoming a works team, developing their own engines in collaboration with Ford, marks a significant shift in strategy led by Horner before his exit. Verstappen’s future with the team remains uncertain, with potential considerations for other options in the coming years if performance expectations are not met.