Home/F1

via Imago

Who would have thought that a drinks company would set up a Formula 1 team, let alone win multiple world titles? Red Bull, which won both championships last year, found itself in a punitive situation. As the FIA held them guilty of a budget cap breach. Christian Horner, who is the longest-serving TP currently, has now come out to talk about his own journey, which includes the team’s finances and an interesting anecdote related to fellow TP Guenther Steiner.

The man who was on his journey to be a racer couldn’t create ripples there. However, if you cannot do it yourself, it doesn’t mean that you cannot guide others to do it. But the doors that opened for Horner at Helmut Marko’s recommendation needed hard work to stay open. The job began with pushing the current Haas TP out in favor of Adrian Newey and what a decision that has been. To add to that, the Briton streamlined the money matters which attracted a penalty in 2022.

via Reuters

As quoted by inews, Horner said, “If you look after people and they feel comfortable in the environment they are in they will show you loyalty. It’s about getting the right people in the right roles, empowering them, creating the right atmosphere. At Arden people did not need to know how close to the wind we were sailing. The risks that were being taken. It was seat-of-the-pants stuff.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

He further highlighted the issues he walked into when he arrived at Milton Keynes. “We had bank loans at NatWest, constantly at the overdraft limit, credit cards maxed out, writing cheques and sending them out before the money had come in. It is a much bigger scale here and financially we are in a very secure position. But you still have to remove the obstacles to allow people to get on with their jobs.

But how did the man who was looking at a racing career land a job as a TP?

Helmut Marko became the guardian angel of Christian Horner

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The success of Dietrich Mateschitz’s trust in Horner and the multiple championships is a testament to the fact that Horner was always better suited to lead the team as a TP. Talk about fate. Horner goes on to highlight what led to him landing at RB.

via Reuters

He stated, “I was looking to see how I could take Arden into F1. Bernie [Ecclestone] was pushing me towards the Jordan team,” he says. “Helmut invited me to meet Dietrich in Salzburg in the summer of 2004. The Jordan deal didn’t happen and Red Bull bought Jaguar. Dietrich invited me back at the end of 2004 and asked me to be team principal.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Trending

Lando Norris Fires 3-Word Warning to Zak Brown and Co Despite Riding High on Miami Win

Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas Fall Prey to Theft Right Before Ayrton Senna Tribute

Where Does Max Verstappen Live Stream?

“Just Being Wheeled Around”: Adrian Newey Accuses Red Bull of ‘Not Involving’ Him in Strategic Calls After Decision to Leave

“You Are Disgusting”: Ex-GF Isa Hernaez’s ‘Vengeful’ Update Leaves Fans Pointing Fingers at Carlos Sainz

What are your thoughts on Christian Horner’s RB leadership? Let us know in the comments below.

Written by

Anmol

651Articles

One take at a time

Anmol is an F1 writer at Essentially Sports. She is a Law graduate from National Law University, Lucknow, and currently pursuing PGD in Journalism and Mass Communication from Symbiosis. Being a Rallyist herself she began watching F1, the apex of motorsports, and eventually fell in love with the sport.
Show More>

Edited by

Akash Pandhare