Christian Horner’s sudden sacking may have been Red Bull Racing doing what Max Verstappen tells them to do.
That is one theory listed by former Red Bull Junior driver turned Formula E driver Dan Ticktum following the bombshell axing.
Horner, who had been at the helm since the team joined F1 in 2005, was handed his marching orders last Wednesday in a move that took everyone by surprise.
With Red Bull likely to end the season without a championship for the first time in five years, he was replaced by Laurent Mekies.
The 51-year-old’s exit has sparked renewed speculation around Max Verstappen‘s future amid reports he’s set to join Mercedes in 2026.
Ticktum, who was a Red Bull junior between 2017 and 2019, exclusively told talkSPORT: “I didn’t have a huge amount of interaction with Christian – Always got on relatively well with him.
“I knew he was slightly sceptical about me as a character, he’s very sort of toe the line. I’m probably a little bit more out there than he is.
“Got on very well with [Red Bull advisor] Helmut [Marko] though, interestingly…But no, it’s not really my place to comment.”
Ticktum pointed out there are simply theories floating around as they would with any other major news story in sport. “Whether there was an ultimatum between Max or him – or Max has already [left] and they want to reshape the team before everything changes, who knows.”
Red Bull were under huge pressure to part ways with Horner last year, in a move spearheaded by the Verstappen camp.
Horner was dogged by allegations of inappropriate misconduct towards a female employee at the start of 2024, which he denied and was cleared of by two internal investigations.
However, things continued to deteriorate when Verstappen’s father, former F1 driver Jos, publicly called for the Englishman’s dismissal.
Timeline of Horner’s misconduct scandal
February 5, 2024: Red Bull respond to allegations and open internal investigation
February 21: Horner joins the team in Bahrain for pre-season testing with investigation still open
February 28: Red Bull clear Horner of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ saying ‘the grievance has been dismissed’
February 29: Rival team principals, including Toto Wolff, ask for more transparency from Red Bull
March 2: Horner and wife Geri celebrate completely dominant season opener, with Verstappen winning by over 22 seconds
March 3: Jos Verstappen says: “There is tension here while he remains in position. The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is.”
March 3: Report from De Telegraaf claims Max Verstappen rejected request from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to publicly back Horner
March 7: Verstappen defends father Jos and refuses to rule out Red Bull departure
March 7: Red Bull suspend staff member at the centre of Horner scandal
May 1: F1’s greatest car designer Adrian Newey announces Red Bull departure
August 1: Integral sporting director Jonathan Wheatley announces departure to Sauber
May 12, 2025: Red Bull deny report Horner will be sacked
July 9: Horner sacked
Conflict between the pair reignited when Jos claimed Horner blocked him from taking part in the Legends Parade at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Verstappen always refused to escalate his father’s battle with his former team principal, but has repeatedly acknowledged his frustration with car performance.
talkSPORT has since learned that the Dutchman wants to depart for Mercedes amid strong insider rumblings that Toto Wolff‘s Silver Arrows have mastered the new 2026 engine regulations.
“I think people who are even closer in that paddock now, even they don’t know [why Horner was sacked],” Ticktum continued.
“I’ve messaged a couple of people yesterday, and they don’t really know the full reason.
“So I presume Red Bull are just doing what their best asset tells them to do. ie Verstappen – and he is by far the best there.”
Red Bull are currently fourth in the constructors’ standings, a position they haven’t finished lower than since 2008.
But in total, Horner remains one of the most successful executives in the sport’s 75-year history.
Under his guidance, the team have achieved eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ titles along with 124 race wins.
When asked if Horner will be expected back in the paddock, Ticktum told talkSPORT: “Probably, I would have thought, yeah.
“I mean, don’t get me wrong, he’s built that team from the ashes of what was Jaguar.
“I mean, he’s obviously done some pretty incredible things at that team. So, I’m sure he’ll be back in some capacity, yeah!”