HORNER SACKED BY RED BULL AFTER 20 YEARS IN CHARGE

Red Bull have announced that Team Principal Christian Horner has been sacked with immediate effect as of today. Horner had lead the team from their inception in 2005 and has been at fore front during the teams dominance with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

CEO Oliver Mintszlaff said

"We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last twenty years... 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 One... Thank you for everything Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history".

Christian Horner has led Red Bull to eight Drivers Wold Championships (Vettel x4 & Verstappen x4) alongside six Constructors World Championships.

With Horner no longer there means there will be a management reshuffle at both Red Bull teams with Laurent Mekies taking the reigns at Milton Keynes becoming only the second ever Team Principal to lead the team.

While down at Racing Bulls (Mekies current team) CEO Alan Permane will take over Team Principal duties having previously held the role at Renault.

What does this mean for Max Verstappen and his future in the team? This is the second blow to Red Bulls hopes of keeping the four time World Champion after losing Adrian Newey to Aston Martin earlier on in the year.

With the rumours rife around the paddock of Max possibly joining Mercedes for 2026 and two key figures for Max at Red Bull gone and the teams obvious decline in recent races will Toto Wolff and Mercedes have an upper hand in the fight for Verstappen's signature.

It's expected that Mercedes will be one of the fastest heading into next year with the regulation overhaul similar to that of 2014.

Wolff has been very open about wanting Max in the car for next year and with Russell out of contract and no signs of an extension to his deal could Max partner Antonelli for next season?

Could we see George go to Red Bull? Or will Antonelli simply be a pawn in Toto Wolff's weird game of F1 driver chess...

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