Red Bull ‘sources’ now pinpoint two key factors that have led to Christian Horner’s exit

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Red Bull Racing head into the second half of the 2025 Formula 1 season with a new man at the helm.

For the first time in Red Bull’s Formula 1 history, the Belgian Grand Prix will see a new team principal on the pit wall for the Anglo-Austrian team.

Christian Horner was in charge for the first-ever race in F1 back in 2005, and he’s overseen more than a dozen Red Bull drivers over the past two decades.

Those drivers have had varying levels of success, with Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel the leading lights under Horner.

Both drivers are four-time drivers’ champions, but Verstappen’s 2025 title defence is one of the core reasons why this decision has now been taken.

Red Bull are sitting fourth in the constructors’ championship, with Yuki Tsunoda having scored only seven points since his Racing Bulls promotion.

It highlights exactly what has gone wrong during the final moments of Horner’s Red Bull tenure.

READ MORE: Know all about Red Bull team principal Christian Horner with net worth to wife

Red Bull ‘sources’ suggest why Christian Horner has now lost his team principal role

A report from ESPN has shared more details about the events that led up to Horner’s dismissal.

They report that ‘sources’ from within the team have told them that the atmosphere at Red Bull has ‘grown increasingly tense’ this season.

This has been ‘magnified by the team’s struggles’ on the track, with Verstappen 69 points behind the drivers’ championship leader, Oscar Piastri.

Verstappen has repeatedly suggested that he’s already given up on winning a fifth consecutive title, while Tsunoda currently sits 17th in the standings, with just 10 points to his name.

The report goes on to say that a ‘series of meetings’ have taken place over the last two weekends involving senior Red Bull staff.

It’s believed that Verstappen was involved in at least one of them alongside Oliver Mintzlaff, who has ‘long pushed’ for Horner to be replaced.

Horner lost the backing of key allies at Red Bull in recent weeks, with the Thai side of the business always on his side.

Martin Brundle has shared his verdict on Horner’s exit, and his replacement, Laurent Mekies, will be preparing for a barrage of questions at the next race in Belgium.

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Giedo van der Garde reacts to Christian Horner’s Red Bull exit

Giedo van der Garde, the former F1 driver and Dutch pundit, has now had his say on Horner’s exit from Red Bull on Wednesday.

Van der Garde previously labelled Horner as ‘childish’ last season, and has given his verdict on whether Red Bull made the correct decision.

Posting on Instagram, he said: “It’s hard, but if the results aren’t there, you need to find different solutions.

“After last year and the results now, it’s the right decision.

“He did an outstanding job for the team, but now it’s time for fresh energy and new blood.

“8 Driver WC, 6 Constructor WC, 124 wins: what a legacy. All the best to Laurent Mekies to find the winning streak again.”

All eyes will now be on Red Bull’s results for the rest of the season, and whether Mekies can get a tune out of Tsunoda, having worked with the Japanese driver in the past.

Mekies will also need to immediately get up to speed on Red Bull’s 2026 project, and whether it looks promising enough to convince Verstappen to stay.