Eye-watering figure Horner was paid after Red Bull axing
Christian Horner received a seven-figure payout when he was sacked from Red Bull, the team’s financial documents have revealed.
Horner was axed mid-way through last year after allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague. He was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. Getty Images
Horner still had six years remaining on his contract, and received a payout worth $144 million – including a $17 million sum for “compensation for loss of office”.
Horner had held the team principal role with Red Bull since the team entered the championship in 2005. Under his leadership, the team won eight drivers’ world titles and six constructors’ titles.
He has since vowed he would only return to the F1 fray in some kind of ownership capacity.
But he did say he would consider a non-ownership role with Ferrari, and declared it would be “the dream” to work for the Scuderia.
"At this stage in my life, there's only one team for which I would accept non-participation in ownership," Horner told The Times last month.
"Would I consider Ferrari? I mean, Ferrari is the biggest brand in Formula 1. It’s the dream. And arguably, it’s the sleeping giant of Formula 1."
The reaction to the comments was so strong, Ferrari bosses were forced to hold their own press conference declaring their faith in incumbent Fred Vasseur.
Horner is set to release more details of his Red Bull exit in a memoir simply titled Drive, set to be released on October 22. He is also set to make an appearance on the High Performance Racing podcast on October 19.
Elsewhere, McLaren‘s own financial documents have revealed the team’s sensational run to the 2025 drivers’ and constructors’ titles came at a loss.
Per figures filed with the UK's Companies House, the team reported income of $1.12 billion, up just under $200 million from the previous year.
But costs increased by about a third to $1.02 billion. When about $180 million of other expenses are added, it results in a loss of roughly $81.4 million.
Horner, Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko were a tight-knit group in the Red Bull stable. Getty
A key part of loss is the staggering salary of chief executive Zak Brown.
Although his base salary is listed at only $15.65 million, other bonuses and incentives took it to $140 million – an increase of $81 million year-on-year.
As a result, Brown’s salary was more than that of his two drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris combined.
McLaren also employed 23 more staff, and is still repaying significant loans taken out during the pandemic.
The F1 circus continues this weekend on the streets of Singapore, which includes the last sprint race of the season on Saturday evening.
