Christian Horner has spent nearly two decades orchestrating Red Bull Racing’s dominance in Formula 1. But last month, he swapped the pit wall for the cockpit, getting behind the wheel of an RB7 for a pre-Goodwood Festival of Speed shakedown.
For a man who hasn’t driven a Formula 1 car since 1993, this was no ordinary joyride—it was a high-adrenaline, nerve-wracking experience that gave Horner a newfound respect for the drivers who have raced under his leadership.
“F@ckin’ Hell! It Just Keeps Pushing”
The Red Bull boss admitted to feeling the pressure before the run, especially with his own team watching closely.
“I won’t bother with a cup of tea then, I might throw up,” he joked as the RB7 fired up.
Once on track, however, the nerves quickly turned into sheer exhilaration as he unleashed the V8-powered 2011 championship-winning machine.
“Feels like an awful lot of power,” Horner remarked. But as he got up to speed, he was blown away by the smoothness of the power delivery and gear shifts.
“Absolutely brilliant—I didn’t want to stop. Down the Hangar Straight, I got into seventh, flat. F@ckin’ hell! It just keeps pushing.”
A Newfound Respect for F1 Drivers
Horner’s RB7 run was more than just a personal thrill—it gave him a deeper appreciation for what his drivers experience week in, week out.
“It’s good to be reminded how difficult Formula 1 is. The pressure’s on—not just in front of tens of thousands of people, but from our own employees, mechanics, and engineers. They were all just waiting for me to stall on the pull away from the line.”
While Horner successfully completed his run without any embarrassing moments, he was happy to admit that Red Bull wouldn’t be calling him up as a reserve driver anytime soon.
Celebrating 20 Years of Red Bull Racing
Horner’s drive was just one part of Red Bull’s 20-year anniversary celebrations at Goodwood.
The event featured a legendary lineup of past and present Red Bull drivers, including Christian Klien, Mark Webber, Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen, and Sergio Perez. Seeing two decades’ worth of Red Bull machinery in one place was a proud moment for Horner.
“To be in Goodwood with all these cars and drivers, past and present, is going to be a really special moment. It’s a milestone for the team, and there’s no better place to celebrate than at Goodwood.”
As for his own driving performance?
“It’s bloody fast, but a great experience, and a sense of relief. It’s good to get to the end, and the car’s in one piece.”
Red Bull’s Next Era with Ford
With Red Bull and Ford gearing up for their 2026 power unit debut, the Milton Keynes powerhouse is poised for another era of dominance. Horner, the longest-serving team principal in F1 history, knows the road ahead won’t be easy, but after 20 years at the helm, he’s more motivated than ever.
“Having never driven a Red Bull car before, it’s a hugely proud moment to drive a car that was designed and built by the men and women in Milton Keynes, and which won our championship in 2012. Seeing all the cars together was a great moment, and it gives me even more respect for the amazing drivers we’ve had and currently have.”
🚀 Could we see Horner behind the wheel again at the next Red Bull milestone, or will he leave the driving to Verstappen and Co.?
