Christian Horner has been with Red Bull since the very beginning. The Austrian brand hired him to run their team ahead of their F1 debut in 2005.
Horner, then 31, became the youngest team principal in the sport’s history when he accepted the offer. Within five years, he’d delivered a world championship.
Through Sebastian Vettel, a product of the team’s driver academy, and veteran teammate Mark Webber, the Bulls would win a quadruple-double from 2010 to 2013. While Mercedes then took over as F1’s most dominant team, there was never really any risk of Horner losing his position.
The hierarchy kept faith with the Englishman, who broke Mercedes’ stranglehold in 2021 with the help of Max Verstappen, another Red Bull product. Verstappen is about to emulate Vettel by making it four titles in a row.
But his team are unlikely to win the constructors’ title given the 49-point deficit to McLaren. Many will blame that on Sergio Perez, who has performed so poorly that the team could break the new contract they offered him in June.
A series of high-profile departures may have destabilised the team too. Legendary designer Adrian Newey resigned in the spring and will join Aston Martin, while sporting director Jonathan Wheatley has agreed to head up the Audi project.
Christian Horner may leave Red Bull for Liberty Media position, Peter Windsor says
Newey and Wheatley, 2006 arrivals, had been at Red Bull almost as long as Horner. And now Peter Windsor suspects the team principal could follow them before too long.
Horner survived a power struggle with Helmut Marko, the head of the driver programme. But former F1 team manager Windsor reckons that he may leave of his own accord.
A role within F1 commercial rights holders Liberty Media could appeal to the 51-year-old. Stefano Domenicali, currently the sport’s CEO, used to be in charge at Ferrari.
Windsor thinks Verstappen can extend his run of titles at Red Bull even if Horner departs. That will partly depend on the success of their new, independent power unit project.
He said: “On the assumption that Ford and Red Bull Powertrains will do a good job with that engine, and he [Verstappen] stays at Red Bull, and they’re still a good team, even if Christian Horner goes to Liberty – which might happen – I think he could still win another couple there.”
Why Liberty Media may be cheering on Red Bull at Las Vegas Grand Prix
F1 has denied rumours that Domenicali will switch focus to MotoGP amid Liberty’s expected takeover (via The Race). Horner would have been a logical replacement.
But it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Red Bull man was open to a new challenge. 18 years is an exceptionally long tenure, and there’s little left to achieve.
The 2023 campaign was perhaps his crowning glory. He saw the Milton Keynes win 21 out of 22 races – the most dominant season ever.
Liberty are privately backing Red Bull in Las Vegas, according to one journalist. As the promoter of the race, they hope Verstappen seals the championship this weekend, which would make for quite the celebratory spectacle.
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