Christian Horner has revealed that he winked at Queen Elizabeth II during a lunch at the late monarch's invitation, an act he says still makes him squirm with embarrassment. In his upcoming book, Drive, the former Red Bull team principal recounts the moment he broke royal etiquette.
An awkward moment over coffee
Horner writes that as the afternoon wore on and guests moved to coffees in a lounge, the Queen offered him some sugar. He never took sugar in his drinks, but felt unable to refuse the most famous woman in the world.
"When she dropped it into my cup, I did something that still makes me squirm with embarrassment. I winked at her. Whether she noticed or not, I have no idea, but it went against all etiquette, and I regretted it immediately," Horner writes.
A surreal royal lunch
Horner describes the lunch as unlike anything he had experienced before. Seven other guests from different walks of life were present, including a farmer, a mathematician and the most senior female member of the Royal Navy.
"As we waited nervously for our hosts to arrive, a side door opened and the Queen entered. Wow, she's a lot smaller in real life, I thought," he recalls. He added that the atmosphere felt relaxed and homely, like having lunch with his grandparents.
Career highlights and royal honours
Horner became Red Bull's first team principal in 2005 after Dietrich Mateschitz purchased Jaguar Racing the previous year. Under his leadership, Red Bull won six Constructors' Championship titles, while Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen each claimed four Drivers' Championships. He was sacked in July 2025 amid an internal power struggle and received a compensation package of £100.48 million.
Horner met the royal family on numerous occasions, including when he was awarded an OBE in 2013 and a CBE in 2024. He described visiting Buckingham Palace as a surreal experience and an incredible honour that made him proud to be British, adding that he felt fulfilled knowing he was making his parents proud.
