Red Bull: Horner Exit Explained – Mid-Season Shock

Red Bull celebrated six constructors’ championships and eight drivers’ championships under Horner’s leadership. But Horner, 52, had also faced controversy with allegations of mistreatment of colleagues and inappropriate behaviour, which he strongly denied, and an investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing.

“I wouldn’t call it a risk because we were 100% behind the move. We knew we had to do something. I’m not a so-called ‘hire and fire’ manager, someone who just fires people,” Minclaf told De Telegraaf.

“Kristian has a great background in the team and has achieved a lot of success. Everyone here at the company, myself included, appreciates what he has done. But that is also part of being a professional organization.”

“You can’t always rely on history and we felt it was time to turn the page and start a new chapter. It wasn’t an easy decision, but we didn’t rush it either.”

Mincliffe also responded to Dr. Helmut Marko’s recent comments on Horner. The Austrian claimed that the former team principal did “everything he could to take control of the company” after the death of Dietrich Mateschitz, and that Max Verstappen would have been champion in 2025 if Horner had left earlier.

“These words about Christian are Helmut’s responsibility,” Mintzlaff said. “I can’t say anything negative about Christian. Simply because he meant a lot to Red Bull. But there always comes a time when things don’t go well and then as a company you have to make a decision.”

“Are you going to give someone more time or is it time for a new leader? We felt it was time for a change. I disagree with Helmut’s claims. Yes, it makes sense that things change in the organization. Maybe Dr. Marco has changed over the years.”

“I think it’s quite normal that things are not the same as they were five years ago. Christian and Helmut have been working together wonderfully for years, since the beginning in 2005, so we’re talking about more than 20 years.”

“Give me some examples from other big sports organizations where the management team has stayed the same for so long. So you can be very negative that they’re both gone now. But I would say it’s unique that they’ve been here together for so long and achieved so much. Sometimes you just need a change to shake things up,” said Mincliffe.

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