Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, is once again making headlines, this time with strong words directed at his Formula One rivals.
The latest clip from Netflix’s Drive to Survive series shows Horner confronting the aftermath of the controversial texting scandal that overshadowed the beginning of the 2024 season.
In the footage, Horner can be heard expressing his frustration with his competitors, saying, “I want to f*** all of them.”
This follows a series of challenging events that put Horner and Red Bull in the spotlight.
A Tumultuous Start to the 2024 Season
The season began under a dark cloud for Red Bull Racing, with Horner facing an internal investigation into allegations of “coercive behaviour” towards an unnamed employee.
Although the allegations were eventually dismissed, a new controversy erupted just ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
A leaked collection of texts and photos, reportedly exchanged between Horner and a female colleague, made its way to influential figures in Formula One, causing a media frenzy.
The anonymous leak rocked the paddock, but Red Bull was quick to defend Horner.
By August 2024, the appeal against the original inquiry was dismissed, and Horner expressed his relief that the issue had been formally resolved.
However, new footage from Netflix’s documentary series reveals the intense pressure Horner faced during this period and the toll it took on both him and the sport.
Facing the Pressure Head-On
In a sneak peek from the upcoming season of Drive to Survive, Horner opens up about the chaos surrounding his 2024 start.
He reflects on the challenges that come with being at the top of the sport, stating, “The higher you rise, the sharper the knives.”
Horner admits he never anticipated facing such a crisis in his career, particularly at such a critical time in the season.
“You can either hide away or you can get out there and face it,” he adds, emphasizing his decision to confront the controversy head-on rather than retreat.
The clip also shows Horner’s wife, Geri Halliwell, joining him at the start of the season to show a united front amidst the storm of media attention.
Together, they faced the scrutiny of international press, making it clear that they were standing strong against the tide of controversy.
Red Bull’s Rivalry and Public Disputes
Tensions between Horner and his rivals are laid bare in another scene, where he is seen criticizing McLaren CEO Zak Brown.
Following the leak, Brown had called for more transparency in the investigation into Horner’s actions.
Horner’s response, captured by Netflix cameras, was blunt: “Zak’s a p****. I’ll get through it.”
Mercedes’ team principal, Toto Wolff, also questioned Red Bull’s transparency, expressing concerns about the sport’s handling of the situation.
In response, Horner remarked on how the controversy revealed the true nature of his relationships within the sport, saying, “You find out who your friends are, don’t you?”
Horner’s Plan to Move Forward
As the season continued, Horner made his stance clear: the best way to overcome the scandal was by delivering strong results on the track.
After Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez finished in the top two spots at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Horner declared, “That’s the best way to f*** them all.”
In the wake of the opening race, he remained defiant, telling critics to “shut the f*** up.”
Towards the end of the clip, Horner speculates on the motivations behind the leak, suggesting that the goal was to force him out of Red Bull.
When asked if he knew who was behind the leak, Horner remained tight-lipped, offering only a smirk in response to the “multi-million dollar question.”
Strong Support Amid the Chaos
Despite the swirling controversy, Horner’s position within Red Bull appeared stronger than ever.
The team principal secured unwavering support from the Thai stakeholders, who hold a majority stake in the company.
Their backing, along with his loyal leadership, seemed to ensure that Horner’s job was safe, even as other tensions within the team started to surface.
One significant departure during the year was that of Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s star designer and chief technical officer.
Newey resigned in May after nearly two decades of designing championship-winning cars for the team.
In a surprising move, Newey later joined F1 rivals Aston Martin, securing a £20 million-a-year deal, further shaking up the Red Bull camp.
Horner’s turbulent journey at the start of the 2024 season is sure to be a key focus in the upcoming season of Drive to Survive, giving fans an inside look at the challenges and conflicts that played out behind the scenes.