Christian Horner, former Red Bull Racing team principal, denies that Max Verstappen or his father, Jos Verstappen, played any role in his unexpected departure from the team last year. Horner, who had led Red Bull since 2005, was dismissed in July 2025 amid turbulent internal conflicts, marking a significant shift within the organization.
Background of Tensions Leading up to Horner’s Dismissal
Horner’s exit came after a period marked by strained relations, notably with Jos Verstappen, father of the four-time world champion Max Verstappen. The discord had escalated to the point where Jos Verstappen distanced himself entirely from the Formula 1 paddock. Additionally, Horner had fractured ties with Red Bull’s long-standing racing advisor Helmut Marko, who has since left the team as well.
Discussing the situation on the newest release of Netflix’s Drive to Survive series on February 27, Horner explicitly rejected the idea that his differences with Jos Verstappen were behind his firing.
“[Max] father has never been my biggest fan,”
Horner said in the documentary.
“He’s been outspoken about me, but I don’t believe that the Verstappens were responsible in any way.”
Internal Power Struggle Following Dietrich Mateschitz’s Death
The deeper cause behind Horner’s removal appears linked to a broader political power struggle within Red Bull following the death of its founder, Dietrich Mateschitz, in 2022. Horner enjoyed the support of the Thai family, which holds 51% of the company, but the Austrian faction, controlled by Mateschitz’s son Mark and owning 49%, increasingly resented Horner’s broad authority over racing and commercial operations.
Horner believes this concentration of control was the real reason behind the decision to remove him from his position.
“It was all rather sudden. I didn’t really get the chance to say a proper goodbye,”
he revealed.
“I think this was a decision that was made by [Red Bull executive] Oliver Mintzlaff with Helmut advising from the side-line.”
“I think ultimately 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.”
The Significance and Future Implications of Horner’s Departure
Christian Horner’s removal marks a pivotal transformation for Red Bull Racing, ending the era of its original leadership. The internal struggle reveals how corporate shifts, especially after the passing of a company’s founder, can dramatically alter the dynamics of a leading Formula 1 operation. For Max Verstappen, who remains the team’s cornerstone driver, this episode clears any speculation about his or his father’s influence over team management decisions.
Looking ahead, Red Bull will continue to wrestle with balancing power between its Austrian and Thai shareholders, which will likely shape both the team’s strategic direction and Max Verstappen Red Bull exit narratives in the future.
