Horner names the true culprits of his Red Bull exit

Christian Horner has offered a revealing look back at his dramatic exit from Red Bull Racing – and in the process, has cleared the Verstappen family of any blame.

In the upcoming season of Netflix’s Drive to Survive, the former team principal reflects on the events that saw him leave the team last summer after two decades at the helm.

Rather than pointing fingers at Max or Jos Verstappen, Horner places responsibility squarely on the corporate and shareholder side of the operation.

The 'S**t Sandwich' and the Corporate Coup

For Horner, the end wasn't a graceful lap of honor; it was a clinical extraction. Reflecting on the moment the axe fell, just after last July’s British Grand Prix, the Briton’s raw emotion is laid bare.

“I feel a real sense of loss and hurt. It was all rather sudden. I didn’t really get a chance to say a proper goodbye,” Horner admitted during his appearance in Drive to Survive.

The transition from the untouchable architect of Red Bull’s dominance to an unemployed spectator was a bitter pill to swallow.

“I never imagined to be in this position. Of course, your immediate reaction when you get delivered a s**t sandwich like that is like, f**k them,” he added, capturing the sheer venom of a forced exit.

“I’ve had something taken away from me that wasn’t my choice, that was very precious to me.”

While 2025 saw a dip in the team's relentless winning streak, Horner maintains that his devotion to the badge never wavered.

“I only ever gave my best. I did my best for my team, for the people that I represented. But performance this year hasn’t been as strong as previously,” he said.

Clearing the Verstappens

While many fans suspected a "Verstappen Vendetta" behind the scenes – fueled by Jos Verstappen’s very public criticisms – Horner is surprisingly quick to absolve the four-time world-champion’s family.

He doesn't see them as the assassins, merely outspoken bystanders.

“[Max Verstappen’s] father has never been my biggest fan. He’s been outspoken about me. But I don’t believe that the Verstappens were responsible in any way,” Horner clarifies, shifting the crosshairs toward the boardrooms of Salzburg and the influence of the team's long-standing advisor.

According to Horner, the real power play was orchestrated by Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff and the "Doctor" himself, Helmut Marko.

In Horner’s view, his downfall was a byproduct of the power vacuum left by the team's late founder, Dietrich Mateschitz.

“I think this was a decision that was made by Oliver Mintzlaff, with Helmut advising from the sideline,” he explained.

“I think ultimately things changed within the business, within the group. The founder died. And after Dietrich’s death, I think probably I was deemed to have maybe too much control.”

It appears that in the new, post-Mateschitz world order, the very autonomy that allowed Horner to turn Red Bull into a championship-winning machine became the target on his back.

Read also: Horner in talks with MSP Sports Capital over potential Alpine stake

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