Herbert: I'm not surprised Christian Horner has been sacked

Wednesday, 09 July 2025 at 17:58

Johnny Herbert believes Red Bull made the right decision in sacking Christian Horner, but warned that the move alone is unlikely to satisfy the Verstappen family or secure Max Verstappen’s long-term future with the team.

Reacting to the explosive Red Bull news, Herbert told EscapistMagazine: “Well, I’m not surprised Christian Horner has been sacked. With everything that happened when the initial news broke, with Adrian Newey leaving Red Bull too, there was always going to be a point where change needed to happen.

“It’s taken a while but I think this decision is the right way forward for Red Bull. I know Ford Motor Company were not happy when the initial story broke, now Christian has found himself in an intolerable position within the company. Things have changed swiftly.”

Herbert acknowledged that while the departure might reset the team’s leadership structure, the fallout could stretch over years. “It’s going to be hard for Red Bull. Is this the downward spiral of the Red Bull team? I know Jos Verstappen wanted Christian removed from the team, now that’s happened.

"Could this be enough for Max Verstappen to stay? Now, the Verstappen family have got everything they wanted, but I’m not so sure that’s enough. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done at Red Bull, it could take around four years to get everything back into position where the team is winning races again," ventured Herbert.

Max to move to Mercedes next season?

max verstappen jos toto wolff f1 mercedes red bull future

"The rumour mill is very strong with Max to move to Mercedes next season, and I think this is another sign of Red Bull falling from the top of the tree," added Herbert, a former Formula 1 driver, turned FIA Steward and pundit.

Verstappen - contracted to Red Bull until 2028, albeit with escape clauses - faces pivotal decisions for 2026 due to new F1 regulations. Staying with Red Bull offers stability, but their in-house engine program with Ford raises performance concerns. As does the instability triggered by a 'brain drain' that now includes Horner.

Mercedes, with promising 2026 engine prospects, is actively negotiating, potentially replacing George Russell. Aston Martin, backed by Honda and Adrian Newey, presents a long-term project with high investment.

A sabbatical to assess team performance is unlikely, as Verstappen dismissed it, focusing on F1 and GT3 racing. His choice hinges on 2026 competitiveness, with Mercedes and Aston Martin as viable alternatives. Watch this space!