Christian Horner has firmly stated that neither he nor his father, Jos Verstappen, contributed to his departure from Red Bull Racing last year. The long-time team principal faced a surprising exit, which followed a period of significant tension within the organization. Horner’s strained relationship with Jos Verstappen, the father of four-time world champion Max Verstappen, had been well-documented, at one point leading to Jos’s complete absence from the Formula 1 paddock.
In an interview featured in the new season of Netflix’s popular series Drive to Survive, set to release on February 27, 2024, Horner addressed the speculation surrounding the reasons for his exit. He emphasized that he does not believe the Verstappen family was responsible for his departure. “Max’s father has never been my biggest fan,” Horner remarked during the documentary. “He’s been outspoken about me, but I don’t believe that the Verstappens were responsible in any way.”
Horner’s exit marked a significant shift for Red Bull Racing, having served as team principal since the team’s inception in 2005. The decision came amid a complex political landscape within the organization, particularly after the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022. Following Mateschitz’s passing, a power struggle emerged, with Horner maintaining support from the Thai family, who own 51% of the company.
Tensions grew as the Austrian side of the business, overseen by Mateschitz’s son Mark and controlling the remaining 49%, became increasingly frustrated with Horner’s authority as CEO. He had oversight of both racing and commercial operations, which ultimately contributed to the decision for his departure.
“It was all rather sudden. I didn’t really get the chance to say a proper goodbye,” Horner explained. He noted that the decision was likely influenced by Red Bull executive Oliver Mintzlaff, with advice from long-standing team advisor Helmut Marko. “Things changed within the business, within the group. The founder died, and after Dietrich’s death, I think probably I was deemed to have maybe too much control.”
This situation illustrates the broader challenges facing Red Bull Racing as it navigates leadership changes and internal dynamics following a significant transition in ownership and corporate strategy. Horner’s comments shed light on the complexities behind his departure, which has left fans and team members alike reflecting on the future direction of one of Formula 1’s most successful teams.
