Martin Brundle reveals what he heard in F1 paddock before Christian Horner was sacked

Martin Brundle has claimed that a lack of harmony inside the Formula One paddock preceded Christian Horner's exit from Red Bull. Horner has been sacked as the team principal after 20 years, in which he claimed a combined 14 Drivers' and Constructors' Championships.

Red Bull have endured a difficult season on and off the track. Max Verstappen looks increasingly unlikely to claim a fifth consecutive world title and uncertainty over the Dutchman's future has loomed over Horner this year. A report last week claimed that the star driver's team provided an ultimatum to Red Bull bosses: reduced Horner's powers or Verstappen will leave. It is unclear if this has led to the decision to part ways with the 51-year-old.

Popular Sky Sports pundit Brundle has mixed emotions following today's news. As a friend of Horner, he pointed out his many successes as Red Bull's team principle. However, he revealed that relationships were not 'rosy' behind the scenes.

Brundle told Sky Sports: "It's completely out of the blue, given things that are going on, and there are problems in the team. Words were getting out of Team Verstappen and others. I'm quite sad about it, if I'm honest. I consider Christian a friend and he's done an incredible job there for 20 years.

"He's won an awful lot of races and world championships for drivers and for the team. He took it from what was the Stewart team, through Jaguar, and it was struggling, to a massive campus in Milton Keynes. There was an awful lot of success and a huge trophy cabinet.

"But it's not been difficult to feel in the Formula One paddock and to observe and to hear that things were not particularly rosy."

News of Horner's departure came abruptly on Wednesday morning. Laurent Mekies is the new team principal of Red Bull.

A spokesperson said: "Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today and has appointed Laurent Mekies as CEO of Red Bull Racing. Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO Corporate Projects and Investments thanked Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years."

Last year, Horner faced an investigation over alleged text messages sent to a female member of Red Bull's staff. He was subsequently cleared.

It is unclear what Horner will do next. He has been widely linked with moving into a similar position at Ferrari, where Fred Vasseur is currently team principal. Alpine are the only team on the grid without a permanent team principal.