Christian Horner, the longtime team principal of Red Bull Racing and husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, has been dismissed from his role, marking a dramatic end to his two-decade tenure with the Formula 1 powerhouse.
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"Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today and has appointed Laurent Mekies as CEO of Red Bull Racing," a company spokesperson said Wednesday in a statement to Page Six. "With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula 1."
The move comes just over a year after Horner, 51, was cleared of workplace misconduct following allegations of "coercive behavior" involving a female subordinate. The allegations, which Horner denied, led to a lengthy internal investigation by Red Bull's parent company, reportedly conducted by an independent third party. In February 2024, the company announced that Horner had been cleared of any wrongdoing.
But the saga didn't end there. Just one day after the probe concluded, hundreds of WhatsApp messages and explicit images allegedly sent between Horner and the female staffer were leaked and circulated among top Formula 1 officials. The messages included flirtatious exchanges and an alleged discussion of a solo sexual act in an airplane bathroom during a flight to Dubai.
Despite the public fallout, Halliwell remained by her husband's side. The 52-year-old singer was seen holding hands with Horner and kissing him trackside at the Bahrain Grand Prix just weeks after the scandal broke, showing support amid swirling headlines.
While Horner faced no formal discipline at the time, the woman involved was suspended for one week with full pay. A Red Bull spokesperson declined to comment on the internal matter, but The Times of London reported that the woman's suspension stemmed from the investigation's findings.
Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull's CEO of Corporate Projects and Investments, also thanked Horner for his leadership, saying, "We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years."
Horner joined Red Bull Racing in 2005 and helped steer the team to multiple Constructors' Championships and global prominence. His departure marks a seismic shift in the Formula 1 landscape and brings an unceremonious close to a tenure defined by both glory and controversy.
Horner and Halliwell married in 2015 and share an 8-year-old son, Monty. They each have daughters from previous relationships.
