However, there are also valid reasons to retain him as the leader, as Red Bull themselves highlight in a glowing tribute to Horner which is constantly featured on their official website.
If he is completely cleared of any wrongdoing after the appeal made by his accuser is heard, Horner has no grounds to step down as he has an impeccable track record as the longest-serving Formula 1 team manager. A journey that began back in 2005 when he played a crucial role in Dietrich Mateschitz’s F1 vision in that position that he has held since the inaugural Australian Grand Prix in 2005.
Since then, under Horner’s supervision, Red Bull has competed in 371 Grand Prix races, and celebrated 268 top-three finishes, with 115 victories, including 30 occasions where they secured the top two positions. The most recent examples of this were Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez leading the way in the 2024 season-opening Bahrain GP and a week later in Saudi Arabia.
Sebastian Vettel clinched four F1 drivers’ championships for Red Bull a decade ago, while Verstappen is on his way to securing his fourth title this year. The energy drinks team has been crowned F1 Constructors’ Champions six times. Last year marked the first instance where their drivers finished first and second in the Championship standings. It is likely to be a repeat this year.
That is an outstanding track record. And there is no denying that Horner has transformed the team into the dominant force it is today. Apart from his close collaboration with Adrian Newey, the RBR F1 boss reportedly played a crucial role in the establishment of Red Bull Advanced Technologies and the Powertrains division of the business.
Now, similar to Mercedes and Ferrari, Red Bull not only constructs F1 chassis but also manufactures F1 engines. So if Horner is found not guilty (eventually) of the ‘sexting’ allegations, why would they remove him from the position he has excelled in, especially when there is no clear successor to take his place?
“Since Red Bull Racing was established towards the end of 2004, one individual has been entrusted with leading its endeavors: Christian Horner.”
“Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner, commenced his motorsport career as a driver, progressing through the racing ranks in the late nineties to reach Formula 3000, which was then a highly respected feeder series positioned just below Formula 1.
“His on-track responsibilities coincided with managing his own Arden International team. At the conclusion of 1998, Christian chose to shift his focus to the managerial side of motorsport and retired from racing. Over the subsequent five years, he transformed Arden into a formidable competitor, securing three consecutive International Formula 3000 Team championships between 2002 and 2004, as well as Drivers’ titles in 2003 and 2004.
“His accomplishments caught the attention of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, and when the company decided to field its own F1 entry in 2005, they turned to Christian to oversee Red Bull Racing. In doing so, Christian became the youngest Team Principal in the sport at just 31 years old.”
In a tabloid format, here is the rewritten text:
Red Bull Racing’s debut season in F1 under Christian’s guidance resulted in a commendable seventh-place finish in the F1 Constructors’ Championship. At the conclusion of the season, Christian enlisted the services of renowned designer Adrian Newey as the Chief Technical Officer. The team underwent rapid development, achieving podium finishes in the subsequent three seasons. By 2009, they were well-positioned to take advantage of significant rule changes in the sport.
The 2009 Chinese Grand Prix marked Red Bull Racing’s inaugural victory, accompanied by their first 1-2 finish. The team continued their success throughout the season, securing five additional wins and a total of 15 podium finishes. They finished second in both the F1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships.
The following year proved to be a monumental leap forward as Christian led Red Bull Racing to their first pair of championships. The Constructors’ Championship was clinched in Brazil, while the Drivers’ title was secured in a thrilling finale in Abu Dhabi.
This double triumph marked the beginning of a remarkable era of dominance. Over the next three seasons, Red Bull Racing achieved consecutive double title wins, accumulating an astonishing eight championships and 47 victories within their first eight years of existence.
Christian’s exceptional achievement of winning four consecutive double titles was duly recognized in 2013 when he was honored with an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II.
However, in 2014, Formula 1 transitioned from 2.4-liter naturally-aspirated V8 power units to complex 1.6-liter turbocharged hybrid V6 power units. This change significantly impacted the Team’s engine partner, temporarily halting Red Bull’s dominance. Despite this setback, the team continued to achieve wins and podium finishes.
Under Christian’s leadership, the Team regrouped and forged a partnership with Honda in 2019. This alliance paved the way for a triumphant return to the pinnacle of the sport. Throughout the season, the team secured three wins and nine podium finishes.
The journey towards reclaiming titles faced a setback at the beginning of 2020. The Formula 1 season eventually commenced in July, and the RB16 car propelled the Team to two victories and 13 podium finishes. However, it was the subsequent campaign that propelled the Team back to the summit.
After an epic and fiercely contested 2021 season, Max Verstappen clinched his first Drivers’ Championship title. The Team added another 11 wins and 23 podium finishes to their impressive record.
In 2022, Formula 1 faced its biggest regulatory changes in over forty years, presenting another new challenge. Similar to the situation in 2009, the Team capitalized on the modifications to the aerodynamics and chassis, resulting in the RB18 emerging as a strong competitor.
Throughout the season, the RB18 underwent a focused upgrade program, leading to its dominance in the latter half of the year. Max Verstappen clinched his second F1 world championship title with four races remaining, specifically at the Japanese Grand Prix. Additionally, at the subsequent United States Grand Prix, the Team secured its fifth Constructors’ title, marking its first in nine years.
Christian, alongside his duties at Oracle Red Bull Racing, also played a pivotal role in the significant expansion of the company’s Milton Keynes headquarters. This expansion included the establishment of various complementary businesses.
In 2016, Red Bull Advanced Technologies joined the race team to leverage their motorsport expertise in developing cutting-edge solutions for external organizations.
Through a partnership with Aston Martin, the company brought to life the remarkable Valkyrie hypercar, based on Newey’s vision for the ultimate road vehicle.
In 2021, Christian led the Team in their most ambitious endeavor yet – to become a fully autonomous independent Team by integrating chassis design with their own power unit design and production facility. This resulted in the creation of Red Bull Powertrains.
The Team’s growing success on the track is mirrored by the significant expansion at the Red Bull Technology Campus. Under Christian’s guidance, a new era has commenced.
Aside from his roles as Team Principal and CEO of Oracle Red Bull Racing, Christian also serves as an Ambassador for the Wings for Life charity, established by the late Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz and two-time motocross world champion Heinz Kinigadner. (Source: Red Bull Racing)