Christian Horner left F1 rivals ‘very upset’ after making unexpected 2024 personnel announcement

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Christian Horner’s sacking from Red Bull Racing came after a turbulent 18 months at the team that saw a number of key personnel leave for greener pastures.

The reason for Christian Horner‘s exit has been widely speculated, with Max Verstappen’s camp recently dismissing rumours that he was forced out by the Dutchman.

Another theory was that Horner’s contract with Red Bull may have contained a ‘performance clause’ linked to the development of the new Red Bull Powertrains engine ahead of the new 2026 F1 regulations.

The poor performance in the initial data, paired with a four-time world champion whose future at the team is uncertain, meant Horner faced a ‘politically impossible’ scenario at Red Bull for keeping his job.

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Christian Horner’s announcement of Jonathan Wheatley’s exit from Red Bull ‘upset’ Audi

Jonathan Wheatley’s departure from Red Bull after 18 years as team manager, eight of those as sporting director, was announced in August 2024 just days after the Belgian Grand Prix.

Speaking on the Chequered Flag podcast, Andrew Benson highlighted the multiple staff movements as well as the reason why Jonathan Wheatley and Audi weren’t happy with Horner’s announcement.

“There has been this big turnover of staff,” the journalist began. “Starting with Rob Marshall, who was very influential for a long time as Adrian Newey’s number two.

“He left for McLaren, joining them at the beginning of ’24. Then Adrian Newey left. Since then, we’ve seen Jonathan Wheatley leave.

“Let’s not forget that when Wheatley signed for Audi, although it’s called Sauber at the moment, Horner was the guy who announced that for them, which Audi and Wheatley were both very upset about.”

With key personnel walking out and others unhappy behind the scenes, it’s no surprise that Red Bull’s form has taken a hit on track. The team may still have Verstappen for now, but it’s clear that the environment around him has changed.

READ MORE: Who is 2025 Audi/Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley? All to know

Christian Horner struggled to fill the void left by his departing staff at Red Bull

The departure of key members of the team spelt trouble for the Austrian constructor, and they haven’t looked like the same team since.

In the 31 F1 Grands Prix since Newey’s exit, Red Bull have won seven races in comparison to the 28 victories the team celebrated in the previous 31 race weekends.

This is partly down to the fact that the team has struggled to hire talent to fill the void, with Nelson Piquet Jr noting the team environment as a factor in why it’s been a struggle to find staff. Despite attempts to steady the ship, it is clear to see that Red Bull’s internal reshuffle has left its mark on the team.

With Verstappen’s long-term commitment to the team now in question and several senior figures jumping ship, the once-dominant racing outfit is facing a period of transition and increasing uncertainty.

The growing doubts around whether Red Bull Powertrains can deliver a competitive engine in time for the new regulations have further fuelled Verstappen’s links with Mercedes.