In an interview with The Athletic, the former team principal said he was summoned to London the day after the 2025 British Grand Prix under the pretext of a meeting about “marketing initiatives”.

Instead, he was met by Helmut Marko, group CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, and the group’s head of HR, who informed him that the team wanted to go in a “different direction”.

Mr Horner said: "I didn’t have the inkling it was going to be dealt with so abruptly."

When he pressed for a reason, he was told the operation had become "more Christian Horner Racing than Red Bull Racing."

He insisted the decision was not related to the workplace misconduct investigation he faced in early 2024, which he survived.

During his time with the team, Red Bull secured 124 Grand Prix victories, 14 world championships, and 287 podium finishes.

Mr Horner was formally released from his duties on July 9, 2025, three days after the Silverstone race.

Laurent Mekies, from Red Bull’s sister team Racing Bulls, was promoted to team principal.

Mr Mekies signed a contract extension through 2031 on October 14, with Mr Mintzlaff praising his "outstanding leadership."

Mr Horner has remained outside the Formula 1 paddock since his departure, marking the end of an era for one of the sport’s most successful team bosses.