Jos Verstappen is not known to be a patient man. The length of time it took Red Bull to sack Christian Horner after last year’s ‘sexting’ scandal must have felt like an eternity for the Briton’s arch-nemesis.

Prior to Wednesday, Horner had served as the only team principal Red Bull had ever had since it joined the grid in 2005, earning 124 victories, 107 pole positions, 287 podiums, eight drivers' world championships and six constructors' championships. Horner will be replaced by Laurent Mekies as CEO and team principal.