Hot Take: Red Bull’s 2026 Future Is Looking Worse By The Minute...
On July 9, Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner was fired from the team effective immediately. The announcement was a shock to everyone, including the blindsided Horner who was unaware that the sacking would occur. Let’s discuss why this move means rocky roads ahead for Red Bull, especially under the upcoming 2026 regulations.
After 20 years, 8 Driver’s Titles, 6 Constructor’s Championships, and 124 race wins, Christian Horner was axed from Red Bull Racing exactly halfway through the 2025 F1 season. Many believe that this was a harsh way to let go of Horner after everything he had given to the team, but others declare that he deserved it after his infamous sexual harassment allegations from February of 2024. Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle commented that “Christian has told me 'no reason was given to him' as to why he's been released. Nothing is forever. Things move on.”
The news of Horner’s firing arrived at the same time as rumors of Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull and moving to Mercedes - rumors which worried the F1 fandom for a few weeks before Helmut Marko recently announced that Verstappen would stay at Red Bull until at least 2026. However, the sudden loss of Horner’s leadership spells trouble for the other driver’s seat at Red Bull, currently being filled by Yuki Tsunoda. The season is over halfway complete, and Tsunoda has scored a mere 10 points for Red Bull, an insignificant number compared to Verstappen’s 185. The 2nd Red Bull seat is notoriously cursed (the team has gone through 5 drivers in 6 years), and with Horner abandoning the team midseason, Verstappen needs to step up and lead the team.
He won’t be alone in his ambition: Laurent Mekies, former Racing Bulls Team Principal, is taking over Horner’s role for the foreseeable future. His leadership has brought great success and accomplishment to Red Bull’s sister team, and everyone believes that he will continue the team’s current prosperity and possibly even improve their current standings. Mekies brings with him 24 years of Formula One experience along with an impressive resume, including previous roles as a Minardi race engineer, Scuderia Toro Rosso chief engineer, FIA safety director, FIA F1 deputy race director, Scuderia Ferrari sporting director, Ferrari Deputy Team Principal, and Racing Director of Ferrari. Mekies also shows great passion for the sport and for his team throughout every race weekend, and I’m positive that his ambition and zeal for racing will also contribute to Red Bull’s growth and success as a team under his leadership.
It’s important to remember, though, that the new 2026 FIA regulations will have everyone shaken up as the car chassis, fuel, and power unit guidelines will all be changed in order to make the cars smaller and more agile. Some teams, such as Williams and Sauber, are overlooking this year’s failures in sight of next year’s hopes, but with such a recent shift of power, Red Bull could be at a management disadvantage when the new rules are imposed - we’ll just have to wait and find out!
Meanwhile, I hope with all of my heart that Mekies continues to transform the team and increase their achievements - he is so optimistic and kind it’s hard not to love him (even if you’re not the biggest Red Bull fan)!! Let me know how you think the rest of this year and 2026 will go for Red Bull, and as always, thanks for watching!
Lights out and away we go,
Lucy xx
