A Zoom call and a meeting in a hotel: this is how Horner's dismissal was decided

Christian Horner, the man who built the Red Bull Racing empire in Formula 1, learned about his dismissal in the most unexpected and cold way: face to face, in a private meeting in a luxury suite in London.

According to the German newspaper Bild, everything happened far from the garages, the cameras, and the hustle and bustle of the paddock. Horner was summoned by Helmut Marko, the team's historic advisor, and Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull holding's head of sports.

There, without preamble, they informed him that he had been removed from his position. The Briton, who had no idea what was coming, was completely surprised. He did not expect his story to end this way, much less in such an informal yet intimidating environment.

Behind that brief and dry scene were weeks of silent maneuvering. Mintzlaff pushed for the change during the Austrian Grand Prix, and secured the final approval from Red Bull group's owners after a private video call the previous Monday. The next day, he flew with Marko to London to carry out the move, without anything leaking to the press or to Horner himself.

The contrast of Horner's departure was stark. The man who firmly managed the team's most successful era, overseeing titles with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, ended up learning about his dismissal in an almost corporate manner, like any other employee. For the Briton, who was used to controlling every aspect of the team, the way he was removed was as unexpected as it was painful.

His exit through the back door, far from any ceremony or farewell, marked the end of an era and made it clear that, even for the biggest names, at the top of Formula 1, power can change hands without warning, in the absolute silence of a hotel room.