Christian Horner has revealed he feared he was having a heart attack or stroke during his time as Red Bull team principal. The 52-year-old, who led the Formula One team for 20 years before being sacked last year, describes the medical episode in his new memoir, Drive, published on Thursday, October 22.
Panic attack at Hockenheim
In the book, Horner recalls the incident that occurred in 2014 during the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim. "In 2014, during the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim, I remember everything tightening around me on what was a thundery day," Horner wrote.
"The air was muggy and close, and throughout the session I became weirdly aware of my own breathing. It felt laboured. Every exhale and inhale became a mechanical and conscious effort, rather than a natural event that took place without thought."
He added: "Then I became light-headed and my chest tightened. After a while, everything returned to normal. But when the same thing happened a couple of days later, I checked Google and wondered whether I was having a heart attack or a stroke – I had just turned forty, after all. To make sure, when I visited the team medic and was given a clean bill of health, it was explained to me that I'd likely had a panic attack."
Managing stress
Horner admitted the emotional toll he had been shouldering was heavy and discussed the methods he used to lessen his stress. "I took it as a warning sign. Emotionally it felt as if I was holding the weight of the world on my shoulders, and a course of exercise, healthy living and time outdoors helped me to manage and regulate the understandable stresses of a challenging lifestyle," he explained.
He also spoke about his running routine, which began in 2009. "In 2009, I had taken up running as a healthy release. At one point I even competed in the Silverstone half-marathon alongside Bernie's [Ecclestone] wife, Fabiana, and Adrian [Newey], who dragged himself on a dodgy leg, having not recovered fully following an Achilles injury several years earlier."
"We raised a chunk of money for the Wings for Life charity, and I enjoyed the experience, apart from the moment when I was outpaced by somebody dressed as a carrot. Recognizing the cause enabled me to quickly identify the issue; my body was giving me a warning. More exercise and letting go of things beyond my control gave me a much healthier outlook."
Horner's tenure with Red Bull included six World Constructors' Championships and eight World Drivers' Championships. Drive is set to be released on Thursday, October 22.
