Christian Horner finally reveals the ‘real reason’ behind Red Bull sack after 2024 allegations
Christian Horner has spoken out about the reasons he believes he was sacked by Red Bull in 2025.
Horner, 52, led the Formula 1 team to eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ titles between 2005 and 2025 before he was sacked in July last year.
This came 17 months after the Brit was accused of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour by a female employee. Horner was twice cleared of the claims, following an internal investigation and the complainant’s appeal. He said he “completely denies” the allegations.
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Christian Horner speaks out on reason for Red Bull sacking
On Monday (October 12), the Guardian’s Donald McRae published an interview with the former race executive, with the 52-year-old discussing his shock exit and even describing it as “brutal and sad”.
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Despite his sacking largely playing out in public, Horner explained that while the true reason for the decision remains unclear, he believes it was due to the power he held within the organisation.
“I think it was a feeling there was too much control in my hands. But I wasn’t really given a reason," he said.
Horner also addressed whether the 2024 allegations had affected his role at Red Bull and ultimately contributed to the decision to sack him.
Asked whether the 2024 allegations contributed to his dismissal, the 52-year-old replied: “I’d come through that, dismissed them. So this was more focused on performance and the future.”
So, would Horner like to return to the sport, where he previously spent two decades at the top?
“Absolutely,” Horner said. “But if I don’t go back, I had a hell of a run. I won one in every four races I competed in. I had 287 podiums out of 405 races.”
Horner previously described a role at Ferrari as a “dream job”, which sparked huge speculation about him potentially replacing current Scuderia boss Fred Vasseur.
But he has since clarified his comments, stressing that they were “taken out of context”.
“Fred Vasseur is an experienced guy,” he added. “He’s done a decent job. But I, more than anyone, know the pressures of running a competitive organisation…
“Ferrari is the biggest brand in F1. It’s the most historic team. But I’ve accumulated some phenomenal capital behind me, to look at the next move I potentially make in the sport. That would be with ownership attached to it, and Ferrari aren’t going to sell shares. So I’m happy to sit outside the sport and see what opportunities present themselves over the coming months or years. It’s not a prerequisite that I go back. I would only return for the right opportunity with like-minded people that want to win. I would never go back just to take part.”
Marko stayed at Horner’s home days before Red Bull sacking
In 2025, he left Red Bull and received a multi-million-pound payout, reportedly in the region of £75million. He also revealed that Helmut Marko had stayed at his family home two days before he was sacked.
“Helmut could be blunt, and I was disappointed he’d stayed as a guest of our family two days before [Horner’s sacking], with no indication this was coming,” he said.
When asked for his thoughts on Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, he bluntly replied: “There’s nothing to say.”
Further pressed on whether the Verstappens had influenced the decision to sack him, Horner answered: “No, it was a Red Bull decision. After Dietrich died, things changed in the leadership.”
Dietrich Mateschitz was the co-founder of Red Bull GmbH and passed away in 2022.
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Topics: Christian Horner, Formula 1, Red Bull Racing
Luke Davies