Jos Verstappen was not behind my Red Bull exit, says Christian Horner

Horner, who joined the team in 2005, led Red Bull to eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ championships.

He was sacked after a controversial 18 months that began with a female employee accusing him of sexual harassment, an allegation that became public in February 2024.

He was cleared of the allegations twice, first after an internal investigation by a lawyer, then by another lawyer who rejected the complainant’s objection.

The Briton walked away with a £52 million payout but said he felt a “real sense of loss” and blamed his departure on Red Bull chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff and Red Bull consultant Marko Helmut.

“It all happened quite suddenly. I didn’t have a chance to say a proper goodbye,” he said.

“I think this was a decision made by Oliver Mintzlaff, with Helmut advising from the sidelines.

“I think ultimately things changed within the business and within the group. The founder died and after Dietrich [Mateschitz]”I think I was probably thought of as having too much control.”