Red Bull boss Horner suffered tragic news just days before receving 'shocking' sacking

As has been widely reported for several hours now, Christian Horner is no longer Red Bull’s CEO and team principal with immediate effect. The bombshell announcement came out of the blue and is set to leave a significant mark not only on the Milton Keynes-based team but on the entire world of Formula 1.

The Leamington Spa-born manager will therefore step away not only from one of the most prestigious positions in motorsport—and the longest-serving team principal role in Formula 1—but, above all, from the very project he saw come to life and grow over the years into one of the most successful teams of the new millennium.

For Horner, however, the bad news doesn’t seem to end there.

According to the Daily Mail, Horner’s first wife, Beverley Allen, passed away at just 58 after a long battle with eye cancer. Her death reportedly occurred only ten days before his dismissal.

Before marrying famous Spice Girls singer Geri Halliwell, Horner had been in a 14-year relationship with Allen, who played a significant role in his rise as a Formula 1 team manager in the mid-2000s.

''Beverley was a lovely woman and it is so cruel what has happened to her,'' a friend of Allen told the British newspaper.

''Christian will be very upset indeed by Beverley's passing - he has lost an old friend and his daughter has lost her mother,'' another source added.

Yesterday, Horner gave a lengthy farewell speech to his team, admitting he was shocked by the unexpected news and expressing heartfelt thanks to everyone for their work over the past 20 years.