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Horner says Red Bull staff expected him to announce Verstappen’s exit

Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred. · 2026-10-19GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration

Horner says he asked for a chance to address Red Bull’s employees himself rather than leave them to learn of his departure from a press release.

From the GPBeat newsroomPublished · · 1 min

Christian Horner says Red Bull employees expected his farewell speech to announce that Max Verstappen was leaving the team. Instead, Horner told them he was the one departing. He recalled feeling a shock ripple through the packed room as he made the announcement.

Horner was told to leave Red Bull midway through 2025 because of poor results, and Laurent Mekies succeeded him. On the High Performance podcast, Horner said the original plan was to issue a press release and leave staff to read the news online. He asked specifically to address the employees himself, and thanked Red Bull and Oliver Mintzlaff for giving him the chance.

Horner attributed the expectation to rumours that Verstappen was unhappy and might move to Mercedes. He said he saw employees crying and disbelief in the room after announcing his own departure. Their reaction, he said, made him realise it was the first and last time he would address that group.

Sources 01
  1. SOURCEHorner bleef sprakeloos achter bij Red Bull-afscheid: "Ze dachten dat Verstappen vertrok!"RacingNews365 Nederland