The Formula 1 paddock has reacted to Christian Horner’s exit from his role as Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal ahead of the team’s first weekend with the Briton in Belgium.
Red Bull announced on 9 July 2025 that Horner had been replaced with immediate effect by Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies. The reason for Horner’s exit has not been confirmed, but it is thought that the performance struggles this year contributed to the decision.
Today was the first media day following Horner’s exit, and it comes as no surprise that it was a big topic of the day. Here is what the drivers had to say.
“Well, I don’t know. At the end of the day, management and the shareholders decided that they wanted a change, and at the end of the day, they run the team. And I’m the driver, so whatever they decide, it’s fully in their right to do what they want. And that’s basically how it happened.
“And at the same time now, sitting here, you look back at those 20 years of Red Bull, I think we’ve had a lot of great years, great results. Now, naturally, there are also years where it’s not going that well, and I think the last one and a half years have not gone how we would have liked. And management decided they wanted to steer the ship in a different direction.
“And then everyone else has to agree to that and look forward. And I am looking forward. I had already quite a few meetings with Laurent as well. The last two weeks have been quite intense for him to jump in. But yeah, I’m equally also excited for the team now moving forward, because that’s what we have to do.
“Looking back, it doesn’t make sense. It’s not going to make you faster, but at the same time you do appreciate those 20 years and especially from my side, the 10, 11 years that I’ve been part of Red Bull. Those things will always be remembered. And the relationship between myself and Christian, for example, that doesn’t change. He’s not here now during a race weekend, but it’s still like a second family to me.”
He added when asked if the news came as a surprise: “At the end of the day, I think in this world, things like that can happen. And when they told me, I was like, ‘OK’. It’s not like they just said, ‘this is what we just decided,’ and then they hung up the phone. You have a conversation about it. Now I don’t need to go into detail [about] what they said, but it’s ‘OK if you guys think that this is the way forward. I’m the driver, you decide.’ And this is how we’re going to do it.”
Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
“I appreciate how Christian supported me in previous races. I got a message from him yesterday that said, ‘Show what you can do’. It was a nice message. And with Laurent, I know him since VCARB and we’ve worked really well.”
The Japanese driver confirmed it was “definitely” a surprise. “Quite surprising for me. I think in terms of Laurent, it’s such a big, big thing. Big changes, right? Because 20 years since Red Bull started with Christian, it’s always worked with Christian. And I think it’s a big change for the team. So, to be honest, I’m still understanding the full story about Red Bull Racing.
“It’s not like I’ve been here for long years and I know about Red Bull Racing and everything. So I don’t think I can say everything. But I’m sure he can bring something that he found in VCARB. He brings some benefits, positives that he’s done in the last few years into Red Bull.”
“Major, but to be fair, it doesn’t really change much for me at the moment. Alan is someone I know really well. He was always quiet, you don’t see him often, but he’s a big part of the team so far.
“He’s the one, next to my race engineer, the one I’ve worked with the most. He’s the guy who takes the final decision on car setup. He’s been very close to Laurent. Laurent has built something very solid over the last two years and now he’s just taking it. It doesn’t change anything to the team and to my approach.”
“I think it doesn’t change too much for me, obviously as a driver we have enough to think about, and especially this year, it’s been a very busy year for me. At this point, things have been pretty good for us recently, I think the car’s been performing well, and our speed’s been good. So we’re just focused on repeating that, and I think the changes don’t really do much, they don’t change too much.”
Lawson, who raced for Red Bull for the first two race weekends of the 2025 season before moving back to Racing Bulls, confirmed that he was also surprised by the news.
“Yes I would say it wasn’t something we expected but things obviously change in Formula 1, and as I said before, for me… yes, it was surprising and having these changes, but it doesn’t really change too much from my point of view of what I’m trying to achieve and what I’m working on.”
Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
“I think Christian achieved a lot with the team in terms of championships and whatever else,” the Australian driver explained. “But for me, it really doesn’t affect much. I haven’t spent much time thinking about it.
“It was obviously a bit of a surprise, I guess. You know, it’s obviously a big change, but it doesn’t affect me.”
“When I’m away from the race weekends, I don’t really pay attention to anything that’s going on in Formula 1 other than what’s happening within our team, so I was neither surprised or not surprised,” the seven-time champion explained.
“I was just minding my own business and I think when you change CEO or someone that’s running an organisation, they come with their own formula and more often than not make changes, so that’s inevitable, but that takes time.”
He added, “It’s been incredible to see the progress. I sat with Christian back in 2005, I remember sitting in his office in GP2, well I was in Formula 3, but looking to go into GP2 for his first year, and I remember sitting with him.
“I wouldn’t say we hit it off from the get-go, but to have seen his progression and his career, it was clearly remarkable what he did with the team, with a huge group of amazing people. And to really run an organisation that big and that well, takes talent and skill, and that’s what he brought to the team, so I wish him all the best.”
“Yeah, I was [surprised]. I think he’s someone who’s helped me a lot in my Formula 1 career. And he’s been in the sport for a long time with a lot of success. So, you could say he’s built that team up.”
He added, “I joined quite late into the Christian Horner era, let’s say. So, on my side, it was clear that he had his people, and he brought everyone up together. There were a lot of long-standing members at Red Bull who were there for a long time and still are to this day as well. He seemed to have a good knack for finding the right people and then building a good circle around them. They seemed to chip away at it and very quickly get to the top. I guess that’s a part of his success.”
“I think his qualities are undoubtable because when you’ve got the number of championships he’s had in 20 years of career, then you can only respect all the success with the team. And what he’s done with Red Bull Racing over the years is very remarkable and very impressive.
“For sure, very good at what he’s been doing with the team. I’m sure we’re going to see him somewhere because with that sort of experience and skills, I’m sure some teams will be interested with Christian.
“I was closer to Helmut just from the fact that he’s more the link between the drivers. Helmut came to poach me when I was 17, signed a contract with him. I got to know Christian a bit later through the process and being part of the academy. So I had less contact with him, but still some. I think he’s for sure been doing very well with Red Bull.”
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“I have no thoughts. It’s not my business. I never know what’s exactly happening down there, so it’s really not my place to comment on. I get on well with Christian. I have no issues. I have a good working relationship with Christian, but I don’t know what’s going on there, so why do I have any thoughts?
“It’s a similar question as when somebody asks me, ‘oh, do you think that now that there’s a few ex-engineers becoming team principal, is that the right path?’ As I said before, for me, it’s case by case,” the team chief added.
“Every situation is different. I don’t think you can generalise it. I know what you’re trying to get out of me, but seriously, I have no opinion. Who am I to comment on a Red Bull situation? Only those people who’s in there, experiencing it day by day, have some rights to comment.
“Me, from completely outside, all I can say is that I have no problem with Christian. We have a good working relationship. He’s been very supportive, and then we had a good collaboration. That’s it.”
Photos from Belgian GP – Thursday
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