Martin Brundle reveals what Christian Horner immediately told him after Red Bull sacked F1 team principal

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Red Bull have sacked their Formula 1 team principal and CEO Christian Horner after 20 years in charge, with Racing Bulls chief Laurent Mekies promoted as his replacement.

News broke on Wednesday morning that Red Bull have sacked Horner with immediate effect after yet another hugely disappointing round in the 2025 F1 season at the British Grand Prix. Max Verstappen would only achieve fifth place, while Yuki Tsunoda finished last in only 15th.

Verstappen paid the price for Red Bull fitting a low downforce rear wing on his car, which got him pole position at Silverstone but then could not handle the rain in last Sunday’s race. The Milton Keynes outfit even now trail McLaren by 288 points in the F1 constructors’ standings.

Martin Brundle reveals that Christian Horner does not know why Red Bull sacked him

So, Red Bull have now sacked Horner as he lost Chalerm Yoovidhya’s support, with the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix proving to be one of the final nails in his coffin. Tsunoda finished last as Red Bull’s only hope in their home event after Andrea Kimi Antonelli wiped Verstappen out.

READ MORE: All to know on sacked Red Bull team principal Christian Horner with net worth

Racing Bulls team principal Mekies has replaced Horner as Red Bull’s new CEO, with the ex-Ferrari sporting director promoted from the junior team ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix on July 25-27. But Horner is at a loss to why Red Bull have sacked him after 20 years in charge.

Martin Brundle spoke with Horner immediately after the news emerged that Red Bull had sacked the 51-year-old and replaced him with Mekies. It was only a brief conversation, yet revealed that Horner does not know why Red Bull have sacked him with immediate effect.

Brundle told Sky Sports News (09/07, 10:41): “I put a message through to him to say, ‘Sorry to read that’. In fact, I said to him, ‘Can we have a chat before I have to go on TV?’ because I want to know more about it from his point of view.

“We weren’t able to do that. But what he did say to me was that no reason was given to him as to why he was being released. So, that’s the only hard information I have on that. But you know nothing is forever.”

Martin Brundle is ‘sad’ that Red Bull have sacked Christian Horner after 20 years in charge

Brundle is ‘sad’ that Red Bull have sacked Horner, having watched the Briton turn what was once a struggling Stewart outfit and then a struggling Jaguar outfit into one of the strongest teams in F1. Red Bull bought Jaguar from Ford in November 2004 prior to the 2005 season.

Horner was one of Red Bull’s first appointments when they made him the youngest-ever F1 team principal. He would oversee six constructors’ championships and eight drivers’ titles, with Sebastian Vettel (2010-13) and Verstappen (2021-24) dominantly winning four apiece.

Yet while Horner does not know why Red Bull sacked him, Brundle feels the move has likely come due to Verstappen considering a move to Mercedes for 2026. There has also been an exodus of leading staff, headlined by Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley and Rob Marshall.

Brundle noted: “I think it’s not completely out of the blue given the things that are going on and the problems in the team, the words you’re getting out of Team Verstappen and others.

“I’m quite sad about it if I’m honest. I consider Christian a friend and he’s done an incredible job there for 20 years, won an awful lot of races and world championships – for drivers and the team – and he took it from what was the Stewart team, through Jaguar.”