Christian Horner exit looms at Red Bull after Imola, Franz Tost and Oliver Oakes in the frame. Christian Horner's position at Red Bull is under pressure.

Red Bull, a growing internal storm: Horner could be on his way out soon, and Franz Tost emerges as a potential replacement following Oakes’ resignation

Rumors of a possible leadership change at Red Bull are becoming increasingly persistent, and Christian Horner’s name is once again at the center of the debate, with his departure appearing ever closer. It all started with reports on Thursday, May 8, indicating Horner’s position was under scrutiny, with his continuation possibly depending on the results of upcoming races — especially with the updates planned for the RB21 at Imola.

In that context, a surprise name emerged as a potential successor: Oliver Oakes, team principal at Alpine. But adding fuel to the fire came the official announcement on Tuesday evening of Oakes’ resignation from the French team. The timing inevitably led to speculation about a possible move to Red Bull, perhaps in a scenario of cohabitation or transition with Horner, who might be headed for a higher executive role.

Horner close to leaving Red Bull: is Tost his replacement?
However, complicating the situation was a revelation by The Telegraph that Oakes’ resignation was due to personal reasons, specifically the arrest of his brother William. This development has reportedly cooled — if not put on hold — the idea of his imminent arrival in Milton Keynes.

Just as The Telegraph report was spreading, Austrian newspaper Österreich reignited talk of Christian Horner’s impending departure, strongly suggesting a possible split after the Imola Grand Prix. The article — published anonymously — described the situation as “a real bombshell,” feeding further speculation about internal tensions within the Red Bull structure.

In addition to Oliver Oakes, Österreich mentioned a second unexpected name: Franz Tost. The former team principal of Toro Rosso and AlphaTauri, long a key figure in Red Bull’s junior team, had stepped away from Formula 1 for personal reasons — but according to the Austrian newspaper, “he’s being widely talked about” as a candidate for a return in a top position, possibly replacing Christian Horner.

Despite some sources close to Red Bull denying any imminent departure for the British manager — who has a contract until 2030 and shareholder support — the atmosphere surrounding the team’s leadership remains tense. Fluctuating performances, internal friction, and past investigations appear to have created cracks.

Attention is now focused on the Imola Grand Prix, widely seen as a potential turning point. If the new updates fail to deliver the expected results, Red Bull might decide to reshuffle its leadership. And the shadow over Christian Horner could soon turn into something much more concrete.