Christian Horner, Red Bull’s original team principal, has formally left the team today, two months after his departure was announced.
The 51-year-old, who brought Red Bull’s team into Formula 1 in 2005, was replaced by Laurent Mekies following the British Grand Prix in July.
“Leading Red Bull Racing has been an honour and privilege,” said Horner in a statement issued 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.”
Under his leadership, Red Bull became a race- and championship-winning team. It secured four consecutive constructors’ championships between 2010 and 2013, and two more in 2022 and 2023. The team also took two drivers – Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen – to four consecutive drivers’ titles.
“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,” said Horner.
“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.”
He left the team before he was able to see one of his biggest projects come to fruition: the creation of a new power unit division at the Milton Keynes base. It will produce the team’s first power units in conjunction with Ford for the new regulations which will be introduced next year.
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“I wish Laurent, Max, Yuki [Tsunoda] and all of the Red Bull Technology Group the very best for the future,” he said. “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 [road car].
“I would like to thank our incredible sponsors and partners for their unwavering support who have played a key role in all our success. I would like to say a big thank you to the fans for their ongoing belief and without whom there would be no Formula 1.
“Racing aside, I would also like to thank the shareholders, the late Dietrich Mateschitz for the opportunity he gave me as a 31-year-old, Mark Mateschitz and Saravoot Yoovidhya and finally Chalerm and Daranee Yoovidhya for their friendship and commitment during my time at Red Bull as well as Oliver Mintzlaff and the Board for their guidance.”
Mintzlaff thanked Horner “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. Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history.”
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