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Christian Horner Set to Receive Massive Multi-Million Red Bull Payoff
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Highlights
- Christian Horner to receive €60 million severance from Red Bull
- Horner led Red Bull Racing for 20 years until July dismissal
- Departure followed performance drop and key exits like Adrian Newey
- Horner faces nine-month non-compete, can join new team April 2026
- Severance details to be disclosed in 2026 financial statements
- Red Bull’s payout is among F1’s largest severance deals
Christian Horner is set to receive €60 million in severance from Red Bull following his July dismissal, ending a 20‑year tenure as team principal.
The payout, reported by De Telegraaf, aligns closely with his contract and includes a nine‑month non‑compete, delaying any move to a rival outfit until April 9, 2026.
The agreement follows a Red Bull GmbH investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct, which Horner denies, alongside a marked performance dip and departures that destabilize the team’s technical and operational structure.
Severance totals €60 million (£52.3m), ranking among Formula 1’s largest separation packages.
Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley depart during a turbulent period, amplifying disruption across Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Powertrains.
Horner’s operational duties are removed before legal teams negotiate exit terms, culminating in reported compensation worth roughly £52.3 million.
The restriction shapes the competitive picture, limiting his influence on preparations for the 2026 rules landscape during an intensive phase of concept definition.
Non-compete runs nine months, freeing Horner to join a new team from April 9, 2026.
Statutory disclosure will arrive in Red Bull Racing’s accounts, with Companies House filings due by September 30, 2026, detailing timing, structure, and any contingencies within the severance.
The package ranks among Formula 1’s largest known severance deals, reflecting Red Bull’s desire to protect intellectual property and stabilize leadership through notice, garden leave, and restraint provisions.
Red Bull will disclose final figures in Companies House filings by September 30, 2026.
On‑track dynamics shift in the 2025 Formula 1 season, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris leading ahead of Max Verstappen, reshaping pressure on Red Bull’s development cadence.
The scale and timing mirror broader auto racing industry trends around leadership churn and IP protection during regulation transitions.
Visual Summary
€60M
⏳
Horner’s F1 Return Blocked Until
April 9, 2026
Horner’s F1 Return Blocked Until
April 9, 2026
9 months left on his Red Bull restriction
(Eligible to join another F1 team in April 2026)
(Eligible to join another F1 team in April 2026)
End of an Era:
Christian Horner leaves Red Bull after 20 years,
taking home the largest F1 severance ever.
Christian Horner leaves Red Bull after 20 years,
taking home the largest F1 severance ever.
💥
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
