Christian Horner is set to receive a substantial payout exceeding £80 million from Red Bull following his abrupt dismissal from the Formula 1 team after a two-decade tenure. The 51-year-old, who was replaced by Laurent Mekies as team principal and chief executive post the British Grand Prix, remained under employment until a settlement was reached with Red Bull GmbH. Documents filed at Companies House on August 14 confirmed Horner’s official termination from all three UK-registered companies associated with the racing team.
Reports indicate that as part of the confidential settlement agreement, Horner will be compensated with more than £80 million, cutting short his contract scheduled to extend till 2030. He will also observe a customary gardening leave period before potentially considering a return to the paddock midway through the upcoming season, although current prospects for new team affiliations seem limited.
Horner’s legacy at Red Bull saw him join at the age of 31 in 2005 and lead the team to unprecedented success, clinching multiple drivers’ and constructors’ championships. However, tensions with Austrian leadership heightened following the passing of Red Bull co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz, ultimately resulting in his departure earlier this year.
The team, now under the leadership of Mekies, has achieved recent triumphs with back-to-back wins by Max Verstappen, signaling a promising future. Red Bull is poised to transition into a works team in partnership with Ford next year, a project initially spearheaded by Horner. The team’s performance will be crucial as Verstappen’s management has hinted at exploring alternative options by 2026 if competitive results are not delivered.