‘Million dollar question’ F1 world is asking after Christian Horner’s sacking
F1 fans are asking the same “million dollar question” about the mysterious nature of Christian Horner’s mid-season sacking by Red Bull.
F1
Don't miss out on the headlines from F1. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s the million dollar question on everyone’s minds after Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was sensationally let go on Wednesday after more than 20 years at the helm.
How much influence did Max Verstappen have in the sacking of the Red Bull boss? And why now, at the halfway point of the season?
Horner was given the news at a private meeting on Tuesday, leaving him to give a teary farewell to the team he lead to six constructors titles and helped deliver eight drivers championships.
Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every practice, qualifying session and race in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™ LIVE in 4K. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
However, all good things must come to an end. As Verstappen, a four time world champion, continued to drive in a car that isn’t competitive, drama would ensue.
Every race threatened to have consequences, and those on Verstappen’s side believed it could only last so long without a change.
After last season’s scandal surrounding Horner and allegations of inappropriate behaviour toward an employee, of which he was cleared, Jos Verstappen, Max Verstappen’s father, publicly said Red Bull wouldn’t last under the principal’s reign.
The former F1 driver’s opinions of his son’s team principal haven’t altered and Verstappen’s side have continued to question Horner’s influence over the team.
Speaking to BetVictor Casino, seven-time F1 race winner Juan Pablo Montoya said Horner’s sacking has sparked a “million dollar question” about whether it was because Red Bull had already lost Verstappen or if his camp had given Red Bull an ultimatum.
“I think Christian Horner’s sacking has surprised everybody,” Montoya said.
“There has been talk for the last year and a half about them possibly wanting Horner out, because of all the drama happening internally at Red Bull.
“I think there are going to be a lot of changes in Red Bull, they need a lot of changes. The million-dollar question is, have Red Bull got rid of Horner because Max Verstappen is leaving, or did they get rid of Horner to prevent Max from leaving?
“That’s what everyone will be wondering about for the next few weeks or months until we know what happens with Max.
“Anyway, with how hard the Red Bull car is to drive, they need to rebuild their team.
“Adrian Newey has left, and they need a new structure to be put in place. In the long term, Red Bull will be OK, but in the short term, they’re going to struggle to put everything in place and hire the right people.
“It’s going to be exciting from the outside to see what happens at Red Bull. I do feel sorry for Christian because of everything he’s done for the team. Everything happens for a reason and we’ll see what happens.
“Overall, I think the sacking has a lot to do with Max leaving Red Bull. Whether it’s about Max staying or leaving, that will be the big question mark everyone is wondering about.”
“So, what do you blame? What do you do? Where do you go from here? That for me is the million dollar question with Red Bull is why is it so complicated to drive? I don’t think it’s complicated, I think it’s just so different from any other car that a guy like George (Russell), unless you had like a three or four year commitment, knowing that you’re gonna struggle but you have time to figure it out, then you wouldn’t go there.
“It’s going to be hard for Red Bull. Is this the downward spiral of the Red Bull team? I know Jos Verstappen wanted Christian removed from the team, now that’s happened. Could this be enough for Max Verstappen to stay at Red Bull? Now, the Verstappen family have got everything they wanted, but I’m not so sure that’s enough.
“There is still a lot of work that needs to be done at Red Bull, it could take around four years to get everything back into position where the team is winning races again. The rumour mill is very strong with Max to move to Mercedes next season, and I think this is another sign of Red Bull falling from the top of the tree.
“This decision is a big shock to a lot of people in Formula 1, but I think it was the correct decision to make. What happened in the past was always going to be an issue for Red Bull. Things move on, and we’ll see what Red Bull can do from this position and a lot of work needs to be done.”
Speaking to EscapistMagazine, former F1 driver and steward Johnny Herbert said Verstappen’s camp have got what they wanted with Horner gone.
“I’m not surprised Christian Horner has been sacked,” Herbert said.
“With everything that happened when the initial news broke, with Adrian Newey leaving Red Bull too, there was always going to be a point where change needed to happen.
“It’s taken a while but I think this decision is the right way forward for Red Bull.
“It’s going to be hard for Red Bull. Is this the downward spiral of the Red Bull team? I know Jos Verstappen wanted Christian removed from the team, now that’s happened. Could this be enough for Max Verstappen to stay at Red Bull? Now, the Verstappen family have got everything they wanted, but I’m not so sure that’s enough.
“There is still a lot of work that needs to be done at Red Bull, it could take around four years to get everything back into position where the team is winning races again. The rumour mill is very strong with Max to move to Mercedes next season, and I think this is another sign of Red Bull falling from the top of the tree.”
Only two reasons for sacking Horner:
— Toni Sokolov (@tonisokolov1011) July 9, 2025
1. He failed to keep Max in RBR and someone has to pay the price
2. Max is staying and Horner leaving made it happen
The car isn’t great but they won WDV in 2024…results are there. #F1
Two possibilities
— Grace ðŸˆâ€â¬›ï¸ ðŸ 🦌 (@gracux) July 9, 2025
1. They sack Horner to keep Max Happy
2. They sack Horner cause Max is gone
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s senior adviser, is also close to the Verstappens and it was revealed last year the star driver could leave if Marko also departed, a clause that was swiftly removed.
Marko said in a statement: “Christian and I have worked together very successfully for over 20 years – both in Formula 1 and in Formula 3000. I would like to sincerely thank Christian for that.
“During this time, we were able to celebrate an incredible number of outstanding achievements. We helped develop two World Drivers’ Champions and several Grand Prix winners. That has always been – and still is – the Red Bull way.
“As for the current sporting situation: there are still twelve races to go, and we will continue to fight for the Drivers’ Championship as long as it’s mathematically possible.”
Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone agreed there is an air of mystery around the decision and timing of Horner’s sacking.
“It must be something very serious, in my opinion,” Ecclestone told RacingNews365.
“I spoke to him the day before and he didn’t know. Well, he might have known, but he didn’t tell me.
“It was a normal conversation. We were talking about Max. Nothing to do with this, otherwise he would have told me.
“It’s the effective immediately I don’t understand. Why would they ask him to leave with immediate effect? It’s like he’s murdered somebody.
“You can understand, if you’re going to fire somebody, then you’d have a chat before and you’d come out with something like, ‘We’ve agreed to part company’, or something.
“But to come out and say, ‘You’re fired with immediate effect’, he must have done something a bit drastic for that to happen.
“Let’s assume they were unhappy with the results, which I can understand, that’s one thing, but to be fired immediately, that’s a different thing altogether.”
Will Verstappen actually replace George Russell at Mercedes?
Speculation has been mounting Verstappen could replace George Russell at Mercedes as the Silver Arrows drag out contract talks with the Brit, while team boss Toto Wolff pursues Verstappen.
It remains to be seen if Verstappen will stay at Red Bull now, or if Russell or Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli are at risk of being replaced and losing their seat to the Dutchman.
“It’s not fair on George because he is still the guy that’s delivering,” Herbert said.
“George is still young enough to be able to work very well with Max. I think as a pairing that would be very, very good for Mercedes because I think they both push each other.
“Antonelli could learn off Verstappen, but then that was always the argument you could say with (Alex) Albon or (Pierre) Gasly or even with (Yuki) Tsunoda.
“They don’t. They can’t. They get absolutely crushed. There is a chance of Antonelli being crushed. When you come up against the likes of Schumacher Senna, Fernando and now with Max.”
“The potential for George Russell joining Aston Martin is still a possibility. I think there is an opportunity there for sure.
“So, I would hope a bit of common sense comes in and I hope George is the one that Aston Martin do choose if they choose Max or if they don’t.
“If Aston Martin do choose Max, George is the best option they’ve got for the future with Mercedes.”
Montoya added: “George might be signed already and Toto is trying to bring instability to everybody else.”
Death of Red Bull founder the turning point
As success has dwindled this year the rumours only got noisier. Horner no longer had the backing he once did.
Until the death of Dietrich Mateschitz in October 2022, the Austrian billionaire who co-founded Red Bull who was a fan of Horner, the team principal was well liked.
Horner’s relationship with other powerbrokers wasn’t the same.
Mark Mateschitz, son of Dietrich who owns 49 per cent of the company, and Oliver Mintzlaff, the company’s managing director, never enjoyed the same feelings for Horner.
With Horner and the Verstappen’s relationship quickly disintegrating, the prospect of having both remain at Red Bull became an even unlikelier feat.
This season has produced little hope, and with 2026 looking an even bleaker prospect, it seems Red Bull have done all they can to hopefully secure Verstappen’s role.
But it may have cost them the reason for their original success.
The F1 season continues at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday 27 July.
Originally published as ‘Million dollar question’ F1 world is asking after Christian Horner’s sacking
Bombshell rumour sends F1 into overdrive
A jaw-dropping rumour has sent shockwaves through the Formula 1 paddock with Christian Horner being linked with a rival team.
Photo sends internet into meltdown
The worlds of two of Australia’s biggest stars have collided with fans left lost for words by their epic photo drop.