Horner recalls unhappiness during Red Bull’s dominant period

Christian Horner says Red Bull’s success with Max Verstappen coincided with a period when he was deeply unhappy. Recalling what his wife Geri told him, he said: “I’ve never seen you so unhappy.”

On the High Performance podcast, Horner described mounting tension and a team atmosphere that felt very different from when he first arrived. He recalled calling Geri after leaving a meeting and feeling as if a weight had lifted, although he also described his departure from Red Bull as deeply sad.

Red Bull dismissed Horner following a period of internal discord and leadership upheaval. He left in July 2025 after 20 years at the helm, and his exit was formalised in a settlement reached in September 2025.

When asked how such unhappiness could coexist with Red Bull’s success, Horner pointed to changes after the death of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in October 2022. He said shifts within the team and wider business drew his focus toward managing relationships and internal politics instead of concentrating solely on racing.

Red Bull’s dominant 2023 campaign fell within the period Horner was describing.