THE PAIN WAS WORSE THAN ANYONE KNEW! CHRISTIAN HORNER REVEALS PANIC ATTACKS AFTER HIS BRUTAL RED BULL EXIT — AND HIS BOMBSHELL WORDS ABOUT MATTESCHITZ’S DEATH HINT AT WHEN IT ALL BEGAN TO UNRAVEL! Christian Horner has opened up about the personal toll of his painful departure from Red Bull, revealing that he suffered panic attacks as the pressure mounted. But it is his reflections on the death of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz that add another layer to the story. Horner has hinted that the loss marked the beginning of the end for the team environment he once knew. Behind the victories, championship celebrations and years of dominance, a very different story was unfolding behind closed doors. Now, Horner’s own words are shedding fresh light on the turning point that changed everything — and the emotional cost of his Red Bull downfall.

CHRISTIAN HORNER has revealed he suffered panic attacks as he opened up on the “painful” end to his 20-year reign at Red Bull.

The 52-year-old was sensationally axed as team principal in July 2025, with Laurent Mekies replacing him after two decades in which Horner transformed Red Bull into one of Formula One’s dominant forces.

Horner admitted the brutal nature of his departure hit him hard, describing being dumped by the team as “painful.. very painful.”

His exit also came during an awful period personally, with the mother of his daughter, Olivia, having died from cancer just days earlier.

And Horner has now revealed the enormous pressures of life in F1 also led to panic attacks. He said: “I didn’t know what it was. You suddenly feel dizzy and conscious of your breathing.”

The former Red Bull chief initially blamed the symptoms on too much coffee and oppressive weather before they returned.

Medical checks found nothing physically wrong and Horner was told anxiety and shallow breathing were behind the episodes, which he has since learned to recognise and control.

Horner also suggested the death of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in October 2022 marked a major turning point in his relationship with the organisation.

He said: “After Dietrich died, things changed in the leadership.”

Mateschitz had been a major supporter of Horner, but his death was followed by a power struggle inside Red Bull.

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Horner endured an increasingly turbulent final period alongside motorsport adviser Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen’s father Jos.

Horner claims he was never given a clear explanation for why he was dismissed, although he believes there may have been concerns that too much control had become concentrated in his hands.

Red Bull’s dominance had also faded after their extraordinary run of success with Verstappen.

But Horner left with a staggering record, having overseen 124 Grand Prix victories and 14 World Championship titles – six constructors’ crowns and eight drivers’ titles.

Red Bull had fewer than 400 employees when he arrived as F1’s youngest team principal in 2005, compared with around 2,200 by the time he departed.