‘Very surprised’: Red Bull driver breaks silence on Horner’s exit

Last Wednesday, Horner announced during a meeting at the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes that his time as team principal and CEO of the Austrian outfit is over. The news came as a shock to Red Bull employees, and Horner himself was clearly emotional.

Formula E driver Jake Dennis has been working as a simulator and development driver for Red Bull since 2018. The news has not affected his own role, he told GPblog.

"I've actually been quite out of tune with Red Bull this year. I haven't been there since October last year, due to other commitments," is his initial reaction.

He continued: "So haven't really been too involved, but yes, it was definitely a surprise to me."

And not just for him, the Brit acknowledged, other team members had no clue such a significant change was coming. "I think it was a surprise to everyone, even for people who worked there every day."

Dennis had nothing but praise for the man who had been at the helm of Red Bull for over twenty years and was partly responsible for the team's numerous successes. "[I'm] Very surprised, but I think what he did for the sport, what he did for Red Bull was pretty exceptional and yeah, I wish him the best in whatever his next step is."

Laurent Mekies was recently the team principal for Racing Bulls, but he now replaces Horner at Red Bull. Asked if Dennis has ever worked with the Frenchman, he said: "I actually haven't, no. I've never spoken to him, but I'm sure I'll meet him when I'm in the office in a few weeks."