Christian Horner's shocking exit marks end of Red Bull era

Christian Horner has led Red Bull since its inception, and his sacking amid a slump in performance will have far-reaching implications. It has become a cliché in football, but no less true if it is repeated, that you are only as good as your last game. Even managers with good results can be sacked in disgrace if their team's form slips into a prolonged slump.

Christian Horner's resignation after more than 20 years at the helm of Red Bull, during which the team won six constructors' championships and eight drivers' titles, is further evidence of what you might call the footballing of F1.

Horner's contract is understood to have run until 2030, but a cocktail of personal scandals, infighting and inconsistent track performances have dethroned him. The decision to fire him indicates that he has lost the support of the management.

Throughout the history of F1, teams have gone from small private workshops to large corporations. Once upon a time, bosses were legends with their names above the entrance, but today managers are just links in the chain. Toto Wolff is an exception.

The example of Ron Dennis at McLaren shows how powerful leaders can lose control. Horner built Red Bull as a team from the top, bringing in Adrian Newey and ensuring success. But it all started to explode in the last 18 months.

Yoovidhya and Marko Mateschitz families

The split in Red Bull ownership between the Yoovidhya and Marko Mateschitz families has led to internal strife. Horner had the support of the Thais but lost it, while Verstappen and his father sided with Helmut Marko.

A scandal involving allegations of harassment further eroded his position. The departure of Newey, Wheatley and Courtenay weakened the team, while the car's performance became questionable. All responsibility fell on Horner.

Driver substitutions and bad decisions pushed the team to the brink. Horner's end was imminent. Now Laurent Mekies takes over, but the question is whether he can restore stability.

The lesson is clear: success in F1 is teamwork, and a leader must know when to delegate. Horner was the face of Red Bull for a long time, but the team he created has fallen apart. The new leader must learn from his mistakes.