Red Bull Racing After Horner: Better or Just Different?
When Christian Horner was ousted from Red Bull Racing in July 2025, it marked the end of an era. For two decades, Horner had been the face of the team, steering it from an ambitious newcomer to a dominant force in Formula 1. Under his leadership, Red Bull claimed eight Drivers’ Championships, six Constructors’ titles, and 124 race wins—a record that cemented Horner as one of the sport’s most successful team principals. But after a turbulent 18 months marred by internal strife, technical brain-drain, and declining performance, Red Bull made the bold decision to cut ties.
The question now is simple: Has Red Bull Racing become better since Horner left? The answer, as with most things in Formula 1, is layered with nuance.
The Context Behind Horner’s Exit
Horner’s dismissal wasn’t just about results—it was the culmination of political fractures and reputational challenges. Allegations of inappropriate behaviour (from which Horner was cleared), a public falling-out with Jos Verstappen, and Adrian Newey’s shock departure to Aston Martin all eroded his authority. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s on-track dominance evaporated. After a record-breaking 2023 season, the team stumbled in 2024, losing the constructors title to McLaren. By mid-2025, they had only two wins—Imola and Suzuka—and sat fourth in the Constructors’ standings, 288 points adrift of McLaren.
Against this backdrop, Red Bull promoted Laurent Mekies, formerly of Racing Bulls, to team principal and CEO. Mekies inherited a fractured organisation, a restless star driver, and a car struggling for consistency. The leadership change was as much about stabilising the team as it was about performance.
Immediate Changes Under Mekies
So, what’s different under Mekies? According to reports, the Frenchman has brought a more technical, engineering-driven approach to leadership. His background as an FIA safety director and Ferrari deputy team principal gives him credibility in technical discussions—a stark contrast to Horner’s more political and media-savvy style.
Max Verstappen himself noted improvements in pre-race preparation and car understanding:
“We were shooting left and right with set-up before. With Laurent, he’s asking the right questions… I definitely felt that in Zandvoort we took a step that worked well.”
Mekies has also encouraged risk-taking in strategy and development. At Monza, Red Bull experimented with alternative rear wings and unconventional tyre choices—moves that paid off with a win for Verstappen. While these victories are isolated, they signal a cultural shift: Red Bull is willing to gamble to regain competitiveness.
Performance Metrics: Better or Worse?
Here’s where the debate heats up. On paper, Red Bull’s results since Horner’s exit remain modest. They’ve added a handful of podiums and two wins late in the season, but they’re still far from title contention. McLaren and Ferrari have outpaced them in development, and Mercedes is closing in. The Constructors’ Championship is over, and Verstappen trails Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the Drivers’ standings.
However, relative improvement is visible. Before Horner’s departure, Red Bull endured a ten-race stretch with just seven points and three different drivers in the second seat—a crisis by their standards. Since Mekies took over, the team has stabilised its line-up and improved operational efficiency. Pit stop errors have decreased, and strategic calls—though aggressive—are more coherent.
Cultural Reset and Internal Dynamics
One undeniable benefit of Horner’s exit is the easing of internal tensions. His tenure ended amid a toxic mix of boardroom politics and personal disputes. Mekies, by contrast, has no entrenched rivalries and is seen as a consensus-builder. This has helped repair relationships with key stakeholders, including Verstappen, whose future was in doubt during the leadership saga. While Mercedes rumours persist, Verstappen now appears committed to Red Bull through 2026, giving the team breathing room to plan for the next regulation cycle.
The technical department, however, remains vulnerable. Losing Adrian Newey was a body blow, and while Mekies has stemmed the exodus, attracting top-tier talent will be critical. The looming 2026 power unit partnership with Ford adds complexity—success will hinge on seamless integration between chassis and engine teams.
Has Red Bull Become Better?
The short answer: not yet—but the trajectory looks promising.
Under Horner, Red Bull was a finely tuned political machine, thriving on aggressive leadership and media dominance. That model worked brilliantly during periods of technical superiority but faltered when the car lost its edge. Mekies represents a pivot to a more collaborative, technically grounded philosophy—arguably better suited to the challenges of modern F1, where marginal gains and regulatory resets define success.
Still, improvement is relative. Red Bull today is less dominant but more adaptable. They’ve traded short-term supremacy for long-term stability, betting that Mekies’ engineering-first approach will pay dividends in 2026. Whether that gamble succeeds depends on three factors:
- Retaining Verstappen through the next regulation cycle.
- Rebuilding technical depth after Newey’s departure.
- Executing the Ford power unit project without compromising chassis performance.
The Verdict
Has Red Bull Racing become better since Horner’s sacking? If “better” means immediate wins and titles, the answer is no. If it means laying the groundwork for sustainable success, then yes—the team is arguably in a healthier position now than during Horner’s turbulent final months.
As Sebastian Vettel put it:
“Christian left big footsteps… He was such a central part of the team. Let’s wait and see how it turns out.”
For now, Red Bull’s story is one of transition, not transformation. The real test will come in 2026, when the new regulations level the playing field. Until then, Mekies’ Red Bull remains a work in progress—less flashy, more methodical, and quietly determined to reclaim its place at the top.
