Christian Horner has confirmed his latest Formula 1 project, a memoir titled 'DRIVE', on the eve of the British Grand Prix, nearly one year after his departure from Red Bull. The announcement was made just two hours before the start of the Silverstone Sprint race on Saturday, almost exactly one year after he was last seen in the F1 paddock.
Horner's departure from Red Bull
After 20 years as team principal of Red Bull Racing, Horner was dismissed days after last year's British Grand Prix as the team's performance declined. He was relieved of his duties as CEO and team principal by Red Bull's Austria-based bosses, remaining on payroll until an £80 million settlement was negotiated. Since then, he has kept a low profile, attending MotoGP and Formula E events but not returning to F1.
The memoir 'DRIVE'
The book, set for release later this year, will cover his full tenure from 2005, when he became the youngest F1 team principal, through 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 strife
The memoir is expected to include explosive details about his final years, marked by scandal and infighting. Horner was accused of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague but was cleared by two independent KCs. He continued to face opposition from powerful figures within Red Bull, including the loss of support after co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz's death, opposition from adviser Helmut Marko, and public calls for his replacement from Max Verstappen's father Jos.
Future plans
Horner hopes to return to F1 with another team. He was linked to Alpine, but Renault chief Francois Provost stated: "There is no discussion today with Christian." His most likely path back may involve a new project, such as a potential 12th team with Chinese carmaker BYD. Horner has been seen with BYD executive vice president Stella Li at public events.
