Christian Horner Secured £67 Million Severance as Former Red Bull Colleagues Criticize Tenure

Former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner received a £67 million severance payout following his departure from the Formula 1 team, according to recent regulatory filings. Companies House documents showed Horner banked £33.5 million from Red Bull Racing as compensation for loss of office, supplemented by an identical £33.5 million from other corporate accounts. The financial revelation arrives amid escalating public scrutiny and criticism from former key colleagues regarding the internal climate during the concluding chapter of his two-decade tenure.

Star driver Max Verstappen addressed the lingering tensions of that period, emphasizing the relief within the garage following the leadership change. 'It is not nice when you constantly have tension between people,' Verstappen said. 'It is not as spicy, but I obviously quite like how things are going at the moment... It is less stressful.' Long-serving adviser Helmut Marko also publicly disputed claims from Horner’s upcoming autobiography, echoing former driver Ralf Schumacher's label of Horner’s account concerning Verstappen’s original recruitment as an 'absolute lie.'

Horner departed Red Bull in July 2025, over a year after an internal inquiry examined allegations of coercive behavior involving text messages sent to a female colleague. Although two internal reviews cleared Horner of any corporate impropriety, leaked message transcripts broadcast prior to the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix created enduring operational strain. Across his 20-year stint, Horner guided Red Bull Racing to eight drivers' world championships and six constructors' titles, establishing one of the most dominant dynasties in motorsport history.

Despite the contentious exit, Horner has voiced interest in returning to Formula 1, explicitly naming Ferrari as an aspirational destination where he would work without demanding an equity stake. However, Ferrari leadership moved swiftly to quell rumors of an impending leadership shake-up, publicly reinforcing support for current team principal Fred Vasseur alongside seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.