December 22, (THEWILL) – After agreeing to a contract extension, Christian Horner will remain as Red Bull’s Formula One Team Principal until at least 2026.
Horner joined Red Bull as Team Principal in 2005, when the energy drink behemoth debuted in Formula One with its own team, and went on to win five drivers’ championships and four constructors’ championships.
As THEWILL reported, the most recent championship victory came earlier this month in Abu Dhabi, when Max Verstappen defeated Lewis Hamilton on the penultimate lap of the season.
After winning the race, Verstappen claimed he hoped to continue with Red Bull for the next 10 to 15 years, while team adviser Helmut Marko wanted to start talks with Verstappen’s management about an early contract extension.
Horner has already signed a contract extension that will keep him as team principal until at least the next generation of power units are launched in 2026, as Red Bull aims to retain its core staff unified and loyal.
In a joint interview with Verstappen on ServusTV, Marko revealed that his cooperation with Horner “works really well,” and that Red Bull had rushed to extend his contract before Verstappen’s.
“Christian is the team principal, he is in the public eye and I am more in the background,” Marko said.
“But we coordinate things quite well, we set the direction of the team, and also of our staff. In political issues we usually speak the same language, and I believe our success proves us right.
“[Red Bull owner] Dietrich Mateschitz said, ‘Christian who?’ In the beginning as Christian had zero experience in Formula 1. But I already knew him from Formula 3000 and other junior categories and I knew about his ambitions and skills. Now that has developed into something great.
“He is a charismatic team boss who, by the way – even before you [Verstappen] – was in the process of extending his contract until 2026.
“Within the whole team, or at least the top positions, we want to have stability for the transition years coming up, when the new engine regulations come in and when the new chassis regulations come in, so that we have a solid team for that.”
Horner’s contract extension has already been inked, according to senior Red Bull sources, pledging him to the club for the long haul.
Verstappen’s contract, which is slated to expire at the conclusion of the 2023 season, will be the next important contract for Red Bull to renew.
“His words have not yet reached his own management,” Marko remarked when asked about Verstappen’s comment about wanting to stay at Red Bull for the next 10-15 years, “We are discussing that at the moment.”
Verstappen added that he was “very happy where I am right now, and I do hope we can do this together for another 10 or 15 years”.
When asked to comment on Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes expiring at the end of 2023, Verstappen said: “I don’t really care what happens on the other side.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
