Christian Horner’s ex-colleagues turn on him as £67m Red Bull pay-out to Geri Halliwell’s husband is revealed, calling out ‘lying’ and how behaviour caused ‘constant spicy tension’
Christian Horner, Red Bull's longest-serving team principal, has received £67m in severance after being sacked by the organisation following a texting scandal that emerged in early 2024. Despite being cleared twice by internal investigations, the disclosure of his payout has prompted public criticism from former colleagues including driver Max Verstappen and adviser Helmut Marko. This comes as Horner prepares to release his autobiography, which reportedly contains disputed claims about team dynamics during his 20-year tenure.
Max Verstappen has indicated that Horner's leadership created persistent tension within the team, describing the current atmosphere as significantly less stressful. Marko has disputed specific claims Horner makes in his autobiography regarding his reluctance to sign Verstappen, with former driver Ralf Schumacher calling Horner's version "an absolute lie". The £67m severance was split equally across two payments from Red Bull Racing and other Red Bull accounts, disclosed in the company's latest financial filings.
- Horner received £67m severance after being sacked over texting scandal.
- Colleagues including Max Verstappen criticise his management style and tension he caused.
- He was twice cleared by investigations despite the 2024 scandal.
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Christian Horner served as Red Bull Racing's team principal for twenty years, a period that encompassed the team's emergence as one of Formula 1's most successful organisations. In early 2024, he was dismissed following a texting scandal, though he was subsequently cleared by two internal investigations.
Upon his departure, Horner received £67m in severance payments, a figure now disclosed through Red Bull's financial filings. The disclosure has prompted public criticism from several former colleagues, including world champion driver Max Verstappen and longtime adviser Helmut Marko, who have begun to dispute claims Horner is making in an upcoming autobiography.
The disagreement centres on Horner's account of his two decades at the team, with former colleagues asserting that his leadership style created persistent friction within the organisation. They have disputed his recollections of key decisions and challenged specific assertions he makes about pivotal moments, such as his account of reluctance to sign certain drivers. These disputes raise questions about his legacy at one of Formula 1's most successful teams.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Horner was cleared twice by internal investigations, establishing that the original allegations lacked substance. Whilst colleagues dispute his account, disagreement about historical events does not equate to dishonesty, particularly when his two-decade tenure gives him legitimate insights into team dynamics. The severance likely reflects standard contractual obligations for his long service rather than a 'hush money' arrangement, and the coordinated media criticism emerging precisely as he releases his autobiography suggests former colleagues may be settling professional grievances.
The case against
Multiple credible figures with direct knowledge—a world champion driver, a senior adviser, and a former driver—are consistently raising concerns about Horner's reliability and leadership, lending weight to their criticisms despite his formal clearances. The fact that Red Bull paid such an extraordinary severance following the scandal, despite clearing him, suggests the company was managing reputational risk rather than vindicating him. When numerous people close to the situation dispute specific claims in his autobiography, it reasonably raises questions about whether his account represents honest recollection or selective self-exoneration.