Nico Rosberg: Christian Horner Red Bull F1 Sacking “Unthinkable”
July 26, 2025
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Sky Sports F1 commentator Nico Rosberg addressed Christian Horner leaving Red Bull after the massive shake-up.
Horner got removed from his position after the board at the energy drink company lost confidence in his leadership.
He was embroiled in several controversies as the team leader, including personal scandals. Red Bull became a powerhouse under Horner, but over the past 18 months, it has experienced a downturn in form.
Former Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies has been promoted to the main leadership position at Red Bull, replacing Christian Horner.
Newly appointed Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies (R) speaks for a television next to former German driver Nico Rosberg ahead of the start of the Sprint Race of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix… Newly appointed Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies (R) speaks for a television next to former German driver Nico Rosberg ahead of the start of the Sprint Race of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Spa, on July 26, 2025.
Photo by SIMON WOHLFAHRT/Getty Images
The team is moving forward and trying to get a reset, though Rosberg remains shocked at Horner’s absence.
“Christian Horner not being here anymore is unthinkable. That’s completely unreal,” he said on the Sky Sports broadcast.
“It was a big, big shock and surprise to everybody, including himself. He didn’t see it coming at all, nor did anybody in the team.
“But of course, it was a long time in the making. Coming on from last year, from all the issues that he’d been having there, so I think this was just a result of that.
“But nobody really still knows 100 percent what exactly happened.”
Red Bull sits in fourth among the constructors’ standings, more than 200 points behind the leading McLaren team.
The team’s lead driver, Max Verstappen, sits in third, but far from title contention, trailing Lando Norris by a little less than 60 points.
Red Bull is on track for a disappointing season, considering its lofty ambitions from the team and its driver.
The driver alongside Verstappen hasn’t carried their weight over the last few years, exacerbating the issue within half the team.
Verstappen has clauses in his contract that could trigger a move to another team, leaving Red Bull desperate to change their fortunes.
A combination of the team’s struggles, Verstappen’s impending exit, and Horner’s alleged inappropriate conduct towards a female employee likely all contributed to a drastic in-season decision.
Even after all the success Horner brought, the team’s ownership decided that enough was enough.
More news: Emotional Kimi Antonelli Opens Up About Confidence Struggles At Belgian GP
Lewis Hamilton Issues Apology After Rough Belgium GP Weekend
Max Verstappen Issues RB21 Verdict After Red Bull Upgrades at Belgium GP
For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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