Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says his departure from the operational side of the team was communicated to him on Tuesday evening and came as a shock.
Horner has been removed as team principal and CEO with immediate effect, with a Red Bull statement confirming the change on Wednesday morning. The 51-year-old has been in charge of the team since its creation to enter Formula 1 in 2005, but has been replaced by former Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies.
Addressing the Red Bull staff at its Milton Keynes factory on Wednesday, Horner said he wanted to be able to speak to the team collectively to thank them.
“Yesterday I was informed by Red Bull that, operationally, I will no longer be involved with the business or the team moving forward from after this gathering,” Horner said in footage secured by Sky Sports. “I will still remain employed by the company, but operationally, the baton will be handed over. And that obviously came as a shock to myself, but what I’ve had time to do is to reflect over the last 12 hours or so.
“I wanted to stand in front of all of you to break this news, and just express my gratitude to each and every single member of the team that has given so much during the last 20 and a half years that I’ve been here.
“When I arrived 20 years ago, with a few less gray hairs, I walked into a team, I didn’t know what to expect. But I was immediately welcomed. And out of two rundown buildings, we started to build what became a powerhouse in Formula 1.
“Watching and being part of this team has been the biggest privilege in my life. Seeing the team…” Horner began, before becoming emotional and being drowned out by applause.
Red Bull Racing’s only official statement since the news broke from the parent company Red Bull GmbH has been to confirm Mekies will take on the dual role that Horner had of CEO and team principal, having only been named CEO earlier in the day.
