Christian Horner's Red Bull F1 payoff revealed after brutal axe

Christian Horner

Christian Horner's Red Bull F1 payoff revealed after brutal axe

Horner's Red Bull payoff amount has been revealed

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Tuesday 23 September 2025 17:00

Christian Horner’s payout after being axed as Red Bull's F1 team principal has been revealed, after an official exit statement from the team.

Horner was let go after 20 years in the job back in July, with Red Bull sat down in fourth in the constructors' championship, and Max Verstappen seemingly without a hope of drivers' championship success.

The Brit was replaced by Laurent Mekies, and since then Verstappen has won two races and is now just 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, with faint hopes of a record-equalling fifth consecutive title still alive.

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Since his departure, Horner and Red Bull have negotiated the terms of his exit, and in August his role as director of Red Bull Powertrains and Red Bull Technologies Ltd was officially terminated.

Now, Red Bull and its CEO Oliver Mintzlaff have released an official statement confirming Horner’s full departure from the team, alongside reports of the cost of his exit deal.

Horner Red Bull F1 exit deal confirmed

Alongside his Red Bull payoff, the report hints that Horner will return to the F1 paddock, with a period of gardening leave negotiated which allows the Brit to return in the first half of the 2026 season.

The report adds that Horner could have received a much larger payout, but it would have led to a longer period of gardening leave.

While the avenue of Horner’s F1 return has not been disclosed, the 51-year-old has been touted as a potential future Alpine team boss.

F1 Red Bull Christian Horner