Horner reaches pay-off settlement with Red Bull F1 team

Former Red Bull Formula 1 team boss and CEO Christian Horner has officially left the organisation after reaching a settlement.

Horner was relieved of his duties as the head of the team's sprawling empire after July's British Grand Prix, in the wake of a growing power struggle behind the scenes.

Horner, who was in charge for all of Red Bull's eight drivers' titles and six constructors' championships, remained employed throughout and was removed as a director of the team's various UK entities last month. That remit included the racing team, the Red Bull Powertrains 2026 company charged with building the team's first in-house engines for next year, and Red Bull Applied Technologies.

Red Bull has now confirmed Horner will officially leave the organisation on Monday after agreeing a settlement, whose details are kept confidential, but which is thought to be anywhere between $70m and $100m. Horner's Red Bull contract had been due to run until 2030.

“Leading Red Bull Racing has been an honour and privilege," Horner said in a parting statement shared by Red Bull. "When we started in 2005, none of us could have imagined the journey ahead – the championships, the races, the people, the memories. I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved as a team breaking records and reaching heights no-one would ever believe were possible and I will forever carry that with me.

"However for me my biggest satisfaction has been assembling and leading the most amazing group of talented and driven individuals and seeing them flourish as a subsidiary of an energy drinks company and seeing them take on and beat some of the biggest automotive brands in the world."

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

He added: "I wish Laurent, Max, Yuki and all of the Red Bull Technology Group the very best for the future. I am confident they will, as ever, deliver success on the track, for our fans, and continue to push to the maximum and I look forward to seeing the first Red Bull / Ford engine in the back of RB22 next year as well as the exciting RB17."

Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull's CEO Corporate Projects and Investments added: "We would like to thank Christian for his exceptional work over the last 20 years. With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula 1."

The conclusion of those severance talks is now expected to allow Horner to consider his future options in F1 for the 2026 season, although it is not clear when exactly Horner will be able to take up a role at a rival squad, if he so desires.

Horner was most recently linked to a takeover of the Alpine squad, although Francois Provost, the incoming CEO of Alpine's parent company Renault, dismissed frequent suggestions the team is for sale.

Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss also ruled out any role for Horner at the nascent US-owned team, which is joining the series next year.

Well before his Red Bull sacking, Horner was understood to be of interest to Ferrari chairman John Elkann, but at the end of July the Italian team ended speculation about current team principal Fred Vasseur by extending the Frenchman's contract.