Christian Horner and Max Verstappen talk on the grid planetF1

F2 contender puzzled by 'abrupt dismissal' of Horner from Red Bull

10:57, 19 Jul

Updated: 13:00, 19 Jul

byHidde Korte

Formula 2 driver Richard Verschoor made an interesting case when asked during the Ziggo Sport Race Café how he felt about the dismissal of Christian Horner as the team principal of Red Bull Racing.

The 51-year-old had been at the helm of the Austrian team for 20 years, overseeing eight drivers' championships and six constructors' championships after becoming the team boss in 2005 when Red Bull took over from the departing Jaguar.

However, after a tumultuous two seasons in 2024 and 2025, struggling to fight at the front of the grid after a record-breaking 2023 season, a seismic shock came as he was fired after the British Grand Prix, resulting in Racing Bulls team boss Laurent Mekies coming in to replace the departing Brit.

Christian Horner leaves Red Bull with them sitting in fourth place in the constructors' championship, with Laurent Mekies taking over after replacing the Brit.

Verschoor finds sacking 'peculiar'

The current leader in the Formula 2 championship kept his opinions rather neutral when he was first asked about the sacking of the Brit: ‘’It’s perhaps better sometimes to not comment on everything. I also just know very little about it.

"I find it a peculiar choice, so abrupt actually. You would think that something must have happened behind the scenes that was unacceptable, that’s how I see it, but I really know nothing at all about it.’’

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Verschoor believed it to be a significant loss for the team. Even though it seemed to be on the horizon, the news still came as a shock: ‘’It’s a pity, he has led the team for a long time. Achieved many great things with the team. I find it quite bizarre that he was ousted in the middle of the season.’

"The disappointing performances of Red Bull this year were not, according to Verschoor, the only reason for the dismissal. ‘’It doesn’t seem that this year's performances would necessitate such an abrupt dismissal, but well.’’