Christian Horner blames Dietrich Mateschitz’s death for the “painful” end of his F1 reign

Former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has spoken out about his dismissal in July 2025, stating that the team gave him no concrete reason for his exit. Horner attributed his departure to a major corporate leadership shift following the 2022 death of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz. He dismissed persistent rumors that friction with driver Max Verstappen or his father Jos caused the decision, calling it strictly a corporate move.

Horner described the firing as brutal and painful, particularly as it occurred days after his former partner Beverley Allen died of cancer. Reflecting on his 20-year tenure, which yielded six constructors' championships and eight drivers' titles, Horner noted that he has since rebuilt a reasonable relationship with Red Bull executive Oliver Mintzlaff and found peace outside Formula 1.