Overview

• On July 9, Red Bull removed Christian Horner as team principal and named Laurent Mekies his successor, also relieving Paul Smith and Oliver Hughes of their senior roles.
• Horner will stay on Red Bull’s payroll under his existing contract but will no longer oversee day-to-day operations.
• The shake-up follows a protracted leadership battle within Red Bull’s management and a midseason slump that has left the team fourth in the constructors standings.
• Although two internal investigations cleared Horner of misconduct, a civil case over alleged inappropriate behavior is scheduled for 2026.
• Max Verstappen’s contract includes an exit clause that could activate if he finishes outside the top three by the end of July, and Mercedes has reportedly opened talks.