Toto Wolff takes over Christian Horner F1 role after Red Bull exit

Christian Horner and Toto Wolff — Photo: © IMAGO

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Toto Wolff takes over Christian Horner F1 role after Red Bull exit

Horner's exit has handed Wolff an F1 boost

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Saturday 12 July 2025 08:57 Updated: 12:46

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has replaced Christian Horner as the longest-serving team principal still working in the sport.

Earlier this week, Red Bull made the shocking announcement that Horner had been sacked with immediate effect, with former Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies taking up the helm instead.

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At the end of the 2004 F1 season, Jaguar was acquired by Red Bull and the energy drink giants selected Horner to lead their project in the pinnacle of motorsport.

Horner, just 31 years old at the time, became the youngest F1 team principal in history when he joined Red Bull in 2005.

20 years later and the Brit held another record of being the longest-serving F1 boss, but after his abrupt axe midway through 2025, Wolff now holds that title.

How long has every 2025 F1 principal served with their teams?

As the sport bids farewell to Horner after 20 years, 14 titles and 124 grand prix wins, here is the updated list of every team principal and how long they have served in the role with their current teams.

Wolff has replaced Horner as the F1 boss with the most years at the helm and the reshuffle within the Red Bull family has introduced some new faces.

F1 Team Principals 2025

Constructor	Team Principal	Date Appointed	Duration
Mercedes	Toto Wolff	21 Jan 2013	12 y, 173 d
Ferrari	Frédéric Vasseur	9 Jan 2023	2 y, 185 d
McLaren	Andrea Stella	13 Dec 2022	2 y, 212 d
Williams	James Vowles	20 Feb 2023	2 y, 143 d
Haas	Ayao Komatsu	10 Jan 2024	1 y, 184 d
Aston Martin	Andy Cowell	10 Jan 2025	0 y, 183 d
Sauber/Audi F1	Jonathan Wheatley	1 Apr 2025	0 y, 103 d
Alpine	Flavio Briatore	6 May 2025	0 y, 67 d
Alpine	Steve Nielsen	4 Jul 2025	0 y, 8 d
Red Bull	Laurent Mekies	9 Jul 2025	0 y, 4 d
Racing Bulls	Alan Permane	9 Jul 2025	0 y, 4 d