Marko: Sacking Christian Horner Was 'Right Decision' for Red Bull

Helmut Marko asserts that replacing Christian Horner with Laurent Mekies as Red Bull Racing's Team Principal was the "right decision," emphasizing the benefits of an engineer leading the F1 team. Horner's unexpected departure followed the British Grand Prix, marking a significant shift for the dominant F1 squad.

Why it matters:

This leadership change marks a pivotal moment for Red Bull Racing, fundamentally altering its operational approach. It signals a strategic shift towards a more technically-driven management style, as the team aims to reclaim its championship-winning form amidst a challenging F1 2025 season.

The big picture:

Christian Horner, 51, had been at the helm of Red Bull Racing since its inception in Formula 1, guiding the team to eight Drivers' titles and seven Constructors' crowns. His sudden dismissal was announced with immediate effect after the British Grand Prix, a decision Dr. Marko linked to the team's "not quite as good" performance.

• Under Horner in F1 2025, Red Bull secured only two of 12 Grand Prix wins.
• The team currently sits P4 in the Constructors' Championship with 172 points, significantly trailing McLaren's 460.

The details:

Laurent Mekies' tenure began with a Sprint victory at the Belgian Grand Prix. His first Grand Prix win came at Monza, with Max Verstappen securing pole position and the race victory, extending his lead over George Russell.

• Mekies' Approach: Marko credits Mekies' "all-in" approach to Friday practices, maximizing car potential from the outset, as a key factor in recent successes.
• Engineer vs. Driver: Marko explicitly stated to ServusTV, "I think that was the right decision. In the complexity of Formula 1, a technician at the top is probably the better solution, everything is then built more from the technical side." This highlights a philosophical difference between Horner (former driver) and Mekies (engineer).
• Monza Performance: Marko praised the team's strong showing at Monza, where Verstappen dominated, and Yuki Tsunoda also qualified well before a collision hampered his race.
• Team Synergy: Marko attributes current improvements to optimal team collaboration and driver involvement in setup, allowing the team to "make optimal use of the potential."

What's next:

Despite recent improvements, Marko concedes that the World Championship title is out of reach for F1 2025. Max Verstappen, currently third in the Drivers' standings, trails Oscar Piastri by 94 points, making a title challenge mathematically improbable against McLaren's strong advantage.

• Remaining Goals: "The World Championship is over, but a few wins would still be nice," Marko commented, hoping for more victories before the season concludes in Abu Dhabi.
• Championship Standings: Verstappen is 36 points ahead of George Russell in the Drivers' standings. In the Constructors' Championship, Red Bull is P4, 21 points behind Mercedes and 41 points adrift of second-placed Ferrari.
• Marko believes Red Bull's current speed could put them "at the front of almost all circuits."