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Christian Horner has reportedly been paid an eye-watering amount of money by Red Bull as part of his severance package. He spent two decades as their leading man, overseeing six Constructors' Championship triumphs. He also managed two of the greatest drivers in F1 history, with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen each winning four Drivers' Championship titles.
Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Horner had been relieved of his duties by Red Bull in a bombshell development. It came amid reports of growing tensions within the team and followed accusations of 'inappropriate behaviour' towards a female colleague, which he denies. Now, it has been claimed that Horner has received a huge payout as part of a multi-million-pound agreement.
He has been paid around £80million in a settlement reached after weeks of negotiations, according to The Times. Horner was contracted to Red Bull until 2030, meaning he was entitled to a lucrative severance package.
The deal also involved an agreement for the amount of gardening leave Horner will need to serve following his Red Bull exit. The report states that he will be able to return to F1 in the first half of the 2026 season.
Horner has been linked with several different teams over the last few weeks, including the likes of Alpine, Haas and Cadillac. He is yet to announce his next move but it is anticipated that he will seek a return to the F1 paddock.
Following the news of his Red Bull departure, the 51-year-old said it had been 'an honour and a privilege' to lead the team for so long.
He added: "I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved as a team breaking records and reaching heights no one would ever believe were possible and I will forever carry that with me.
"However, for me my biggest satisfaction has been assembling and leading the most amazing group of talented and driven individuals and seeing them flourish."
Robert Doornbos, the former Red Bull driver, previously suggested that Horner could join Alpine on the condition that Flavio Briatore is willing to accommodate him becoming a shareholder in the team.
"That would be a team that, at some point, is in such dire straits and says: 'We're at a loss'," said Doornbos. "Flavio isn't going to do it forever.
"Christian [could] say: 'I like a project like that, I'll take it on, and I want shares, then we'll make it a huge success again'. There are also bright minds there who have been successful in the past."
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