Christian Horner has unveiled his latest venture in Formula 1, almost exactly a year since he was last spotted in the paddock. After two decades at the helm of the Red Bull team, he was unceremoniously shown the door just days after last year's British Grand Prix as the outfit's performances on the track began to deteriorate.
Horner's Exit and Settlement
Stripped of his roles as chief executive officer and team principal by Red Bull's Austria-based parent company bosses, Horner remained on the payroll for a period until a substantial settlement, understood to be worth around £80 million, was agreed. Since his exit was finalised, he has largely kept a low profile.
Horner has made appearances at MotoGP and Formula E events but has not returned to the F1 paddock since leaving following last year's Silverstone race. However, just two hours before the Sprint race got underway, and a day ahead of the latest British Grand Prix, his new venture was made public.
Memoir 'DRIVE' Announced
It was announced that his memoir, titled 'DRIVE', is due for release later this year. Within its pages, Horner is expected to recount the full story of his 20 years leading Red Bull Racing, from his appointment in 2005 as the youngest team principal F1 had ever witnessed, to 'navigating periods of success and adversity'.
Horner said: 'F1 is ultimately a people business. While the sport is often defined by the cars, the victories and the championships, what stays with me most are the people, the decisions, the challenges and the extraordinary cast of characters I encountered along the way. This book is my reflection on an incredible 20-year journey and the many individuals who helped shape it.'
Scandal and Internal Conflict
There will undoubtedly be no shortage of sensational and explosive tales to recount, particularly regarding the final couple of years of his tenure at the helm. Those years were mired in scandal and bitter internal conflict, after Horner was accused but subsequently cleared by two independent KCs of inappropriate conduct towards a female colleague.
Horner weathered that controversy, yet continued to find himself under fire from powerful adversaries within the Red Bull camp. The passing of company co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz significantly undermined Horner's standing, as he could no longer rely on the same degree of backing from his son, Mark, and Red Bull's sporting chief Oliver Mintzlaff.
Opposition and Future Plans
In the dying days of his reign, he faced opposition from long-standing ally and Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko, while star driver Max Verstappen's father Jos also very publicly demanded that Horner be ousted. Horner's ultimate ambition is to make his way back into F1 with a rival outfit and replicate the extraordinary success he once achieved at Red Bull.
For some time he was most heavily linked with Alpine, given that Otro Capital is looking to offload its 24 percent stake in the team, but his prospects of securing a buy-in have diminished since Renault chief Francois Provost said last month: 'There is no discussion today with Christian.'
Instead, his most probable route back into the paddock could come through aligning himself with a fresh venture seeking to secure a spot on the F1 grid. The introduction of a 12th team remains a possibility, with Chinese car manufacturer BYD showing considerable interest. Horner has been spotted alongside the company's executive vice president Stella Li at various public engagements in recent months.
