Two key management figures at Red Bull have reportedly left along with team principal Christian Horner. It was announced on Wednesday morning that the 51-year-old, who has been in charge of the F1 team since its inception in 2005, was being dismissed with immediate effect.
Red Bull GmBH released a statement on Wednesday morning, saying: "Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today." The Englishman will be replaced as team principal and chief executive by Laurent Mekies. The Frenchman had previously been in charge of Racing Bulls.
According to Planet F1, Horner is not the only person to have left Red Bull. Chief marketing officer Oliver Hughes and group director of communications Paul Smith are said to have followed him out of the door.
Hughes formed his reputation with digital interactive entertainment company Electronic Arts. He spent eight years with the group and was promoted to the role of head of international marketing before joining Red Bull in 2017.
Smith came on board in July 2022 as head of communications. Two years later, his role was expanded to also incorporate the team's social media output on a variety of platforms.
Horner's departure follows an internal power struggle with Red Bull chief Helmut Markho. The team's form has also regressed in 2025 having struggled to keep pace with McLaren, with speculation mounting over the future of No.1 driver Max Verstappen.
During his two decades in charge, Horner led the team to eight drivers' championships and six constructors' titles. He is yet to publicly address his sacking, but reportedly broke down in tears as he said goodbye to colleagues this morning.
Red Bull has already lost several key figures in the past 15 months. Adrian Newey, regarded as one of the greatest designers in F1 history, resigned last year to join Aston Martin. Sporting director Jonathan Wheatley also left the team at the end of last season and is now team principal at Sauber.
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