Christian Horner was given pay rise at Red Bull before sack and £80m pay-out

Christian Horner was given a pay increase by Red Bull before he was relieved of his duties as team principal. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Horner had been removed from his position and replaced by former Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies. It came amid reports of growing tensions within the team and followed accusations of 'inappropriate behaviour' towards a female colleague, which Horner denies.

He was contracted to Red Bull until 2030, meaning a severance package had to be negotiated. Horner reportedly ended up securing an £80million payout after weeks of discussions behind the scenes. The deal also covered the amount of gardening leave he will need to serve, potentially allowing him to return to F1 in the first half of the 2026 season.

It has since been revealed that Horner received a pay rise in the year before he was sacked by Red Bull. Accounts filed with Companies House for 2024 show a remuneration figure of £7.046million, an increase of £46,000 compared with 2023.

Horner, who was listed as Red Bull's highest-paid director, officially left the team on Monday after being placed into a non-operational role following the British Grand Prix. His severance package has been billed as one of the highest in the history of sport.

In a statement, the 51-year-old said it had been 'an honour and a privilege' to lead Red Bull 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.

"I wish Laurent, Max [Verstappen], Yuki [Tsunoda] and all of the Red Bull Technology Group the very best for the future. I am confident they will, as ever, deliver success on the track for our fans and continue to push to the maximum."

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Horner is set to embark on a road trip with his wife Geri over the coming months. They have been planning a holiday in Scotland for years and are said to be calling it their 'honeymoon' despite getting married a decade ago.

Other reports have suggested that Horner will immediately lose almost half of his severance payment. The vast majority is expected to be taxed at 45 per cent, which is the additional rate for high earners.

It means Horner will take home around £44m, a figure which will more than double his reported net worth. It is also three times the value of his wife Geri, who made her fortune as a member of the Spice Girls.

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