Christian Horner’s era at Red Bull Racing is over. In an interview with RTL/NTV and Sport.de, Horner’s former team boss Günther Steiner explains what and who is behind the British throwing out. The RTL expert also answers the question of whether Max Verstappen has too much power at Red Bull.
Günther Steiner did not surprise the end of Christian Horner as Red Bull team boss-but the time of discharge. He expected “something happening,” said the former team boss of the Haas team RTL/NTV and sport.de.
“I thought: If something comes, then as usual during the summer or winter break, such decisions are made. Christian was there for 20 years, that’s a huge change. It almost seems to me as if I shot out of my hip,” commented Steiner Horner’s prematurely as team boss.
Red Bull had released Horner on Wednesday from his tasks, for him Laurent Mekies, the previous team leader of the Junior Center Racing Bulls. Horner has held the post with the bulls since 2005, was by far the oldest team boss of Formula 1. At Red Bull, Horner still has a contract until 2030. The 51-year-old is now out of the operational business.
Horner said goodbye to the employees at the Red Bull plant in Milton Keynes, and also admitted that he had completely surprised the discharge through the Red Bull tip.
“You noticed that something is wrong-that was a year and a half back and forth,” Steiner traced the way to the Horner-Ko.
Formula 1: at Red Bull “the barrel has run over”
The Briton had come under difficult for an employee at the beginning of the pre -season. An internal investigation came to the conclusion that Horner was not to blame for misconduct, but his standing suffered in the racing team. The camp around world champion Max Verstappen was particularly critical of Horner-critically.
“Actually, you would have to wash dirty laundry at home, here a lot was done about the media,” said Steiner. The unrest around Horner and constant disagreements were not good for a company like Red Bull.
At Red Bull, “the barrel was ultimately over,” the South Tyrolean alluded to the sporty crash of the bulls from the industry leader to the now only fourth Formula 1 force. This went hand in hand with a bleeding of the technical department. Numerous top engineers have left the racing team in recent years, especially design guru Adrian Newey.
The driving force behind the Horner rest of the Horner was Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, said Steiner. “He is the boss and had to decide. I think that’s okay too,” the 60-year-old ordered.
Red Bull without Verstappen Arm on it
Mintzlaff has been considered to be a critical observer of the F1 team chief since taking office as a red Bull managing director, is said to have pleaded for a separation in the course of the Horner affair. At the time, Horner was able to rely on the support of the Thai majority owners – which is now apparently also crumbling away.
The background is the impending departure of superstar Verstappen, which is connected to the 2026 season with a move to Mercedes.
In order to appease the Dutch on the team boss front and keep on board, Red Bull probably pulled the emergency brake at Horner. RTL commentator Christian Danner saw a “homage to Verstappen” in the British throwing out.
Video: That means Horner-Aus for Verstappen’s future
Steiner does not find that Verstappen has too much power at Red Bull. “He worked out this position because it is so good. He developed the power,” said the RTL expert. Without the driving skills of the Dutchman, it was currently poorly ordered around Red Bull.
“And if the relationship between Max and Christian or between the management of Max and Christian was not so good, the (Verstappen and his management, i.e. Red.) Have to say something in the decisions for the future, because Red Bull wants to keep Max or Max, otherwise they would be bad at the moment. And everyone wants Max,” emphasized Steiner.
The former F1 team boss confirmed his statements that he had made before the Horner-Aus at Sport.de. He does not expect a change of Verstappen to Mercedes for the 2026 season. Rather, the four-time world champion will take a closer look at the coming season with the new engine regulations and then decide.