Horner calls Red Bull sacking painful as his engine project wins

Christian Horner has described his sacking as Red Bull Formula 1 boss as “painful, very painful”.

In an interview published on 12 October 2026, the 52-year-old said finishing in that manner after 20 years with the team felt “particularly brutal and sad”. He left Red Bull in July 2025. The Guardian

Horner spoke of his shock when he delivered an emotional farewell to staff at the team’s base. That account was reported at the time of his departure. ESPN He said he did not fully process the dismissal until a month later.

The reason was family. He was focused on supporting his daughter Olivia. Horner said that care came first, and his own feelings caught up later.

Olivia was born in 2013 to Horner and his former partner Beverley Allen. Allen later died from eye cancer. Horner discussed that loss in plain terms, and asked for space around his family life.

The interview also returned to racing. Red Bull’s in-house engine project — the power unit built by the team itself rather than bought from another manufacturer — was conceived and instigated by Horner.

Max Verstappen gave that project its first win at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the team’s first victory with an engine built entirely in-house. He then won again in Singapore in October 2026. Horner said Oliver Mintzlaff, chief executive of corporate projects at Red Bull, rang to thank him for his work on the engine. He added that he now has a reasonable relationship with Mintzlaff.

Horner’s final years at Red Bull included a misconduct investigation. In February 2024 he attended a hearing to answer allegations about his conduct. Reuters

The allegations concerned claims he sent hundreds of inappropriate texts and photographs to a female employee. Horner denied the allegations. On 28 February 2024 Red Bull dismissed the grievance and he remained in post. Reuters He said he was exonerated by two independent investigations.

Red Bull later confirmed his departure after two decades as team principal and chief executive, the person in charge of the race team on and off track. Red Bull Racing

For fans, this means a strange split screen. The man who built the team watches from outside while his engine project wins. That hurts. And he does not hide it.