– a shock to me

There was an emotional dismissal then Christian Horner (51) said goodbye to the Red Bull team after being fired as head of the Formula 1 team, reports Bild.

– I was informed by Red Bull that I am no longer involved in the team. It was also a shock to me, Horner said in the speech to the employees of the Milton Keynes factory.

Sky Sports has published a short clip of the emotional farewell, where you can see that the former team leader is fighting the tears while thanking his staff.

Horner has also posted a farewell speech on Instagram.

– After an incredible journey of twenty years together, it is with a heavy heart that today I said color to the team I have loved, writes the former team leader.

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According to Bild, it was Red Bull’s sports director Oliver Mintzflaff (49) who was behind the decision to remove Horner. The fateful conversation should have taken place already on Tuesday.

Under Horner’s leadership, Red Bull has won six designer championships and eight driver championships-four with Sebastian Vettel (2010-2013) and four with Max Verstappen (2021-2024).

“Seeing this and being part of it has been the biggest privilege of my life,” Horner said with a defective voice before he was interrupted by applause from the staff.

Horner remains employed in the energy drink manufacturer, but said in the speech that “the baton is passed on”. He says that a new leader of the team will be announced shortly.