Johnny Herbert warns that Red Bull faces a “really difficult time” following Christian Horner’s departure as team principal
Red Bull made a surprise announcement on Wednesday that Christian Horner will be replaced with immediate effect by Racing Bull team boss Laurent Mekies. Former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert believes that the Milton Keynes-based team is now in a “precarious position” following the departure of other key figures such as Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley in the past two years. The Briton also thinks it is likely that world champion Max Verstappen will “end up at Mercedes.”
“I don’t think it’s really a surprise. No one should be surprised,” Herbert told RacingNews365. “Even when the whole thing started, I remember that Ford Motor Company was anything but happy with the rumors circulating at the time. Christian held out for a long time, but I think it was something that would never completely go away. And when something doesn’t go away, it’s never good to carry something like that around with you.”
Herbert is referring to the events described in the media as the “Horner affair,” which became public in early 2024. At the time, one of Horner’s employees made allegations of inappropriate behavior on the part of her boss. Horner was cleared by two internal investigations, but the matter is not expected to be heard in court until 2026.
“But of course there’s also the question: Does all this have anything to do with Max?” says Herbert. “Jos was very vocal in the past and didn’t want Christian on the team anymore. Maybe it’s actually related to that. And it sounds very much like Max will end up at Mercedes. In that respect, it’s not really surprising with Christian.”
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff recently hinted that he is in talks with Verstappen, which means that the contracts of current drivers George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli are up for grabs in 2026. Although Wolff said that the likelihood of the Dutchman moving to Brackley in 2026 is low, he did not categorically rule out a move in the future.
Herbert adds: “This is the start of a really difficult phase for Red Bull. With all the changes – Jonathan, Adrian, a few others, and now Christian too – the team is on very shaky ground. In Formula 1, you always need the right ingredients: the right people, the right direction. And all of that has been gradually eroded over the past few months.”
Herbert also addresses the sporting problems Red Bull is struggling with this season. At the halfway point of the season, the team is only fourth in the constructors’ championship, 288 points behind leaders McLaren. Without Verstappen’s points, Red Bull would even be last.
“And then, of course, there are the performances on the track and a Max who is probably not exactly happy. Jos is certainly dissatisfied. But Max is probably dissatisfied too,“ Herbert explains. ”Because, as we all know, Max wants to win races and compete for the world championship title. And that, too, has gradually crumbled over the past, let’s say, year and a half.”