A number of Christian Horner‘s key allies at Red Bull were reportedly sacked alongside the deposed team principal, according to reports.
Horner was dismissed on Wednesday after 20 years at the constructor, having overseen the team’s transformation from upstart on the grid to winner of six constructors’ championships and eight drivers’ championships.
News of his sacking broke just days after the British Grand Prix, which saw star driver Max Verstappen finish fifth and Yuki Tsunoda dead last of the finishers at Silverstone – and one year and a half after Horner was embroiled in a maelstrom of controversy that could have brought his time at the constructor to a premature end.
In February last year, the 51-year-old was accused of sexual harassment and coercive and controlling behaviour by a female employee. He was twice cleared, initially after an internal investigation conducted by a lawyer, and then by another lawyer who dismissed the female employee’s appeal.
A file containing texts and images allegedly sent by Horner over WhatsApp had also been leaked to almost 200 people involved in Formula One, including owners Liberty Media, team principals and the media.
Horner’s wife, the former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, stood by her husband even as the accusations rocked the paddock. Horner has strongly denied the claims.
Christian Horner and a number of his Red Bull allies have been dismissed by the constructor
Horner – alongside his Spice Girl wife Geri Halliwell – had survived a media firestorm last year
The embattled former constructor has denied any wrongdoing amid accusations of sexual harassment and coercive and controlling behaviour
But while Horner’s dismissal ends the tenure of the longest-serving team-principal in Formula One, it also saw the constructor call time on those of several of his allies in the organisation.
As per the Sun, the Austrian-run parent company, Red Bull GmbH, were keen to conduct a clean-out at the team in the wake of Horner’s departure, with those dismissed as part of Horner’s removal believed to be close to him, and in some cases, to have been hired by the 51-year-old.
The outlet claimed that a source close to the situation said that the relationships the sacked employees had with Horner had been a ‘double-edged sword’.
The constructor’s dismissals will also allow incoming team principal Laurent Mekies to build his own staff, after joining the set-up from the constructor’s sister team Racing Bulls.
The source described Mekies as being keen to impose ‘his own vision’ on the team and as a ‘far more anonymous’ character.
The Frenchman has two weeks until the next Grand Prix in Belgium, but will hit the ground running after 24 years spent working in the sport at teams including Minardi and Ferrari before he joined RB.
Horner gave an emotional farewell speech to staff at Red Bull’s Milton Keynes headquarters on Wednesday afternoon, where he stressed that he will continue to be involved with the constructor, but admitted that the ‘baton’ is being ‘handed over’.
‘Yesterday I was informed by Red Bull that operationally I would no longer be involved with the business or the team moving forward from this gathering,’ Horner told his former employees.
Halliwell and Horner put on a united front at the Bahrain Grand Prix in the wake of the scandal
Those close to former team principal have reportedly been dismissed as Red Bull cleans house
Incoming team principal Laurent Mekies will be looking to build his own team at the constructor
Max Verstappen was among those to share a statement after Horner was relieved of his technical and operational duties at Red Bull
‘I will still remain employed by the company but operationally the baton will be handed over.
‘That obviously came as a shock to myself. What I have had time to do is reflect over the last 12 hours or so. And I wanted to stand in front of all of you and express my gratitude to each and every single member of the team that has given so much during the last 20-and-a-half years that I’ve been here.
‘When I arrived 20 years ago, with fewer grey hairs, I walked into a team and I didn’t know what to expect. But I was immediately welcomed and, in two run-down buildings, we started to build what became a powerhouse in Formula One. Watching and being part of this team has been the biggest privilege in my life.’
World champion Verstappen – whose father Jos has a strained relationship with Horner – shared a brief goodbye message to Horner, writing: ‘From my first race win, to four world championships, we have shared incredible successes.
‘Winning memorable races and breaking countless records. Thank you for everything, Christian!’
Red Bull Group chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff said in his own statement: ‘We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years.
‘With his commitment, experience and expertise, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula One.
‘Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history.’
Red Bull are fourth in this season’s constructors’ standings, 288 points behind leaders McLaren.