Red Bull Erases Christian Horner's Presence from Milton Keynes Factory
The physical legacy of Christian Horner at Red Bull Racing is quietly being dismantled. According to recent reports, the Milton Keynes-based squad has removed numerous references and photographs of their former team principal from their Formula 1 factory, signaling a definitive shift in the post-Horner era.
Horner, who was unceremoniously sacked last July after a two-decade reign at the helm, oversaw an era of immense success. Under his leadership, Red Bull secured 124 race victories, four driversâ titles, and four constructorsâ championships. Yet, despite this glittering resume, Horner became an increasingly divisive figure within the organization prior to his dismissal. His tenure ultimately unraveled after losing the backing of Red Bull's Austrian ownership and engaging in a high-profile clash with Jos Verstappen, the father of the teamâs superstar driver, Max Verstappen.
A Conspicuous Absence at Milton Keynes
The extent of Horner's erasure from the factory walls was brought to light by The Telegraphâs Tom Cary, who recently visited the Red Bull facility. Cary reported that the former team boss is now "conspicuous by his absence," noting that he spotted only a single photograph of the Briton during his tour.
A team source confirmed to Cary that photos of Horner had indeed been systematically removed from the main building at the Milton Keynes campus. Perhaps the most symbolic change occurred in Red Bullâs event space. A prominent wall previously featured a quote from Horner stating that working for Red Bull "is not just a job, itâs a way of life." That inscription has now been scrubbed, replaced by a picture of four-time world champion Verstappen. It remains unclear exactly who within the organization issued the directive for these removals.
The situation presents a delicate balancing act for Red Bull. While the team is understandably cautious about airbrushing Hornerâs undeniable contributions to their historical success, there is a clear internal mandate to move forward and ensure that current leadership, namely Laurent Mekies, is not undermined by the lingering shadow of his predecessor. Interestingly, McLaren CEO Zak Brown recently weighed in on the drama, stating he thinks it would be "great" if Horner were to return to the Formula 1 paddock.
The Lingering Loyalty Within Red Bull Powertrains
While several Horner loyalists departed the team last yearâeither in the immediate fallout of his sacking or in the subsequent monthsâa faction of his supporters still remains embedded within the Milton Keynes operation.
This loyalty is particularly evident within the Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT) division. One member of the engine department told The Telegraph that Horner deserves "all the credit" for the success of the brand-new power unit project. On their very first attempt, RBPT has managed to build what appears to be the second-best engine on the current Formula 1 grid.
While Red Bull has undeniably struggled at the start of F1âs new regulatory era, the power unit itself is not the culprit. Instead, the team's current performance deficit appears to be rooted in the chassisâa problem they are actively trying to solve as the fight back begins with radical upgrades.
As Red Bull navigates this complex transitional phase, the physical removal of Horner's image serves as a stark reminder of how quickly the paddock moves on, even from its most successful architects.
Simone Scanu
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.