Reports claim Christian Horner s Red Bull reign nearing end after Imola

Reports originating from Austria suggest that Christian Horner's position as the head of the Red Bull Formula 1 team is facing intense pressure, with claims circulating that he could be "on the verge of being sacked" following the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. This period of scrutiny comes amidst Red Bull's performance in the 2025 season, where they have been outclassed by the British side, McLaren, who are described as the dominant force.

Red Bull has secured only one victory this season (the Japanese GP), in contrast to McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's combined five wins. Concerns about the car's performance have reportedly been voiced internally by consultant Helmut Marko and driver Max Verstappen.

Adding complexity, this pressure follows a difficult spell on a personal level for Horner regarding allegations from 2024. On February 5, 2024, Red Bull confirmed an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague. Conducted by an external lawyer and taken extremely seriously, the investigation concluded on February 28 with Horner being cleared of all wrongdoing, allowing him to maintain his roles. He has always denied the accusations. A labour judge in the UK is scheduled to hear the case in January 2026, and the court in the UK has ordered "reporting restrictions" in the meantime. This ongoing legal context appears linked to the current pressure.

'An internal war...'

The reports also detail an alleged internal war within the wider Red Bull company. The Austrian side, led by Mark Mateschitz, is reportedly pushing for Horner's departure, perceiving that he has tried to consolidate too much power since the death of founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022. The Verstappen family is reportedly aligned with this Austrian faction. In contrast, Horner is said to retain the support of the Thai ownership faction, led by Chalerm Yoovidhya.

Austrian reports from oe24 have even speculated on potential successors, mentioning former Alpine boss Oliver Oakes and Franz Tost, who previously managed Red Bull's junior F1 team and reportedly had past clashes with Horner.

Despite the circulating reports and underlying tensions, sources close to Red Bull have reportedly informed Mail Sport that Christian Horner's job is not at risk. The situation remains fluid, with reports of a potential post-Imola exit driven by a combination of performance issues, internal power struggles, and the backdrop of an ongoing legal matter from 2024, yet countered by assurances from sources within the team.