Horner appointed to Red Bull role.

Red Bull Racing has announced the appointment of Christian Horner as its new sporting director with immediate effect.

Horner will work alongside an as yet unnamed technical director, with the duo replacing Tony Purnell and David Pitchforth who have now left the team following the takeover of Jaguar Racing by Red Bull in November - despite earlier assurances from Red Bull that the Jaguar management would be retained following the purchase of the team.

The Brit takes on the role having been previously been linked with a move to purchase the Jordan Formula One team, although a deal was unable to be reached with team principal Eddie Jordan for the team to be sold.

The decision to sign Horner as one of the team chiefs for the newest team on the F1 grid could give Vitantonio Liuzzi a stronger case to secure the second race seat alongside David Coulthard for the upcoming season.

Both Liuzzi and Christian Klien put pen to paper on one year contracts earlier this week, although no decision has yet been taken on which driver will fill which role within the team.

While Klien was well known by the Jaguar management from his time with the team in 2004, Liuzzi clinched the F3000 title in 2004 driving for Horner's Arden International team.