India, July 11 -- In the spring of 2005, a freckle-faced Christian Horner, only 31 years of age, had stepped onto the factory floor of a Formula 1 team based in Milton Keynes with a huge responsibility on his young shoulders: to transform an unsuccessful Jaguar Racing into a headline-making Red Bull Racing. Twenty years and some grey hair later, Horner stepped on to the same floor on Wednesday morning to deliver his farewell speech after the Salzburg-based Red Bull board decided to remove the longest serving F1 team principal. In between, Horner transformed a team bought primarily to market an energy drink into one of F1s most successful with eight drivers' championships, six constructors' titles, 124 wins, 287 podiums and 107 pole positions. Horner was given the reins of the team that had its origins in Stewart GP which lasted only three years (1997-99) before being bought by Jaguar. Despite five years (2000-2004) as a legendary British manufacturer, the team never finished above seventh in the constructors' standings when Red Bull decided to take over the struggling outfit. Under Horner, the base at Milton Keynes expanded three times in size, turning into a massive campus that not just had the car factory but also the wind tunnel for testing in addition to employing over 1,000 people to develop the two fastest cars in F1. As CEO, Horner helped bring in people crucial in turning the team into world beaters. With former driver and motorsport executive Helmut Marko, Horner built the Red Bull Junior Programme which produced the likes of four-time world champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen along with Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly. Horner saw immense success with Vettel from 2010 to 2013 before Mercedes started dominating the hybrid era. But again it was his team that broke their reign when Verstappen pipped Hamilton to the crown in an epic battle in 2021. Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle has revealed that Horner wasn't given an explanation for his ouster and that the decision came as a shock for him. Yet there have been rumblings in the past year-and-a-half, especially since he was accused of inappropriate behaviour by a female member of his team in February 2024. Though he was absolved in two separate investigations, accusations have lingered which could have been among the contributing factors in his sacking. The Verstappen factor could have also contributed. Though the four-time world champion appears to have a good relationship with Horner, it is Max's father and former F1 driver Jos who has been publicly critical of the official. The junior Verstappen is the hottest property in F1 today, winning the last four world titles with the last one coming in a car that clearly wasn't the fastest. This season, Verstappen has won the lion's share of Red Bull's points (165 out of 172) with no driver in the other seat being able to match up to his level ever since the departure of Daniel Ricciardo in 2018. It gives his camp, comprising primarily his father and manager Raymond Vermeulen, a voice with weight which can control the proceedings in the team. Verstappen has also been linked with a move to Mercedes over the past few weeks. Another issue that Horner has been unable to fix is the second driver who just cannot compete against Verstappen. Another factor could be the demise of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who died in October 2022, someone who trusted Horner blindly. Whatever the reasons, Horner leaves a lasting legacy at the pinnacle of motorsport who, as pundit Karun Chandhok explained to Sky Sports F1, will be remembered for making a "semi-serious, energy drinks fun team" into world champions....