Christian Horner was fired from his position as Red Bull Racing's team principal mainly due to the team's recent poor performance. Despite his successful 20-year tenure, including delivering multiple world championships, the team's form had significantly declined compared to competitors like McLaren. This performance drop was the primary reason cited by Red Bull's management, including advisor Helmut Marko, for Horner's dismissal shortly after the British Grand Prix in 2025. Additionally, Horner's departure followed a tumultuous period that included allegations of inappropriate behavior, which he denied and was cleared of after internal investigations. There were also internal team tensions reported, and a management shift was anticipated to refocus the team's racing direction under his successor Laurent Mekies. Horner was thanked for his long service and multiple titles during his exit. In summary, the main cause of Christian Horner's firing was the decline in Red Bull's competitive performance and a need for change in leadership to regain top form.
