Christian Horner’s gigantic
F1 payout revealed as Max
Verstappen has his say…Christian Horner’s Gigantic F1 Payout Revealed as Max Verstappen Has His Say
Christian Horner’s dramatic departure from Red Bull Racing has taken another stunning turn after newly published financial documents revealed the enormous compensation package awarded to the former team principal.
Horner, who spent two decades building Red Bull into one of Formula 1’s most dominant teams, reportedly received a combined £100.482 million in compensation following his departure from the organization in 2025. The figure has put a fresh spotlight on one of the biggest exits in recent Formula 1 history.
The revelation comes at the same time as four-time world champion Max Verstappen has offered his strongest assessment yet of life at Red Bull following Horner’s exit.
While Horner’s influence on Verstappen’s career is undeniable, the Dutchman has admitted that the atmosphere around Formula 1 has become calmer since his former boss left the team.
Horner’s Huge Red Bull Compensation
Horner was removed from his position as Red Bull team principal and CEO in July 2025, bringing an end to a remarkable 20-year spell at the helm.
According to newly published UK Companies House documents, the compensation paid across Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technologies amounted to £100.482 million.
The reported breakdown shows £33.494 million coming from Red Bull Racing and another £66.988 million from Red Bull Technologies, both described as compensation for loss of office.
Other reports focusing specifically on Red Bull Technology Limited’s accounts have placed Horner’s overall package at more than £76 million. Those filings list £67 million as compensation for loss of office, alongside approximately £9.029 million in remuneration and a £10,000 pension contribution.
The different figures reflect the way payments are recorded across Red Bull’s companies, but there is no question that Horner’s departure came with an extraordinary financial settlement.
Horner had reportedly been contracted with Red Bull until 2030, meaning he still had several years remaining on his agreement when the team decided to end his tenure. The settlement was agreed in September 2025.
The End of a 20-Year Red Bull Era
Horner joined Red Bull when the team entered Formula 1 in 2005 and quickly became one of the most recognizable figures in the sport.
Under his leadership, Red Bull transformed from a new operation into a championship-winning powerhouse.
The team captured six constructors’ championships during Horner’s tenure, while Red Bull drivers won eight drivers’ titles. Four of those drivers’ championships belonged to Verstappen, who dominated the sport between 2021 and 2024.
Before Verstappen’s era, Sebastian Vettel delivered four consecutive drivers’ championships between 2010 and 2013, helping establish Red Bull as one of the sport’s leading forces.
Horner’s tenure, however, eventually became surrounded by increasing internal tension and controversy.
His departure followed a turbulent period that included internal political battles, disagreements over the direction of the team and controversy surrounding allegations made against him. Horner denied wrongdoing, while internal investigations cleared him of the allegations.
Despite those controversies, his contribution to Red Bull’s success remains significant.
Verstappen Gives His Verdict
Perhaps the most interesting reaction to Horner’s departure has come from Verstappen.
The Dutchman won all four of his world championships while Horner was running Red Bull. The pair therefore shared one of the most successful periods in the team’s history.
Yet Verstappen has now admitted that he prefers the calmer environment that has developed since Horner’s exit.
Speaking about the current atmosphere, Verstappen said that he likes seeing people get along and does not enjoy situations where there is constant tension between individuals.
His comments are particularly notable because Horner played an important role in Verstappen’s rise to the top of Formula 1.
Rather than criticizing his former boss directly, Verstappen appeared to draw a distinction between Horner’s contribution to Red Bull and the internal tensions that surrounded the organization during his final period with the team.
For Verstappen, the priority is simple: a competitive car and an environment that allows everyone to focus on winning.
The four-time champion suggested that the sport may be less dramatic from the outside without the conflicts that previously dominated headlines, but that does not necessarily make it worse for the people working inside the teams.
Horner Still Wants a Way Back
Despite his departure from Red Bull, Horner has made it clear that he has not closed the door on Formula 1.
The former team principal returned to the paddock at the 2026 British Grand Prix after spending months away from the sport.
Horner said he had enjoyed having time away after spending approximately two decades working continuously within the Red Bull organization. However, he also indicated that he would only consider returning for an opportunity capable of competing for victories and championships.
That has fueled speculation about his future.
Horner has been linked with potential opportunities involving Alpine, Aston Martin and other projects. More recently, he described Ferrari as a “dream” opportunity, although Ferrari has publicly backed its current team principal, Fred Vasseur.
A return to the paddock would inevitably attract enormous attention, particularly given Horner’s long-standing relationships and rivalries across the Formula 1 world.
Verstappen’s Future Is Also Secure
While Horner’s future remains uncertain, Verstappen’s position at Red Bull is much clearer.
The Dutchman recently committed his future to the team with a new contract that keeps him at Red Bull through 2030.
Verstappen has repeatedly emphasized that he believes the team can return to the front of the grid. He has also praised the leadership of Laurent Mekies, who replaced Horner as team principal.
That decision is significant because Verstappen has previously been linked with a potential move to Mercedes.
Instead, he has chosen to remain with Red Bull as the team enters a crucial new era of Formula 1 regulations.
The relationship between Verstappen and the new Red Bull leadership will therefore be central to the team’s future.
A Remarkable Ending to Horner’s Red Bull Story
Horner’s exit remains one of the most dramatic leadership changes in modern Formula 1.
He arrived at Red Bull in 2005 and spent 20 years turning the organization into a championship-winning giant. He worked with Vettel during the team’s first dominant era and later guided Verstappen through one of the most successful periods of his career.
Now, more than a year after his dismissal, the financial details of his departure have revealed just how expensive the decision was for Red Bull.
With documents showing compensation running into nine figures when payments across Red Bull entities are combined, Horner’s exit has become a financial story almost as remarkable as his sporting legacy.
Meanwhile, Verstappen’s comments suggest that, despite their shared success, he has no desire to return to the intense internal tensions that sometimes surrounded the former Red Bull leadership.
For now, Red Bull is moving forward under Mekies, while Horner watches from outside and considers his next move.
But if the former team principal eventually returns to Formula 1, the sport can expect another major chapter in the Christian Horner story—and given his history, it is unlikely to be a quiet one.
