Toward the conclusion of 2022, a number of unexpected movements caused some team principals to switch sides, causing a significant shakeup in the role of team principals in Formula 1.
To mention a few, Fred Vasseur took over for Mattia Binotto at Ferrari, Andreas Seidl was named CEO of Sauber, and Jost Capito resigned as Williams’ team principal.
It became difficult to foresee what would happen next with other team managers, but Christian Horner of Red Bull will unquestionably remain with his current employers.
Since the energy drink juggernauts entered the sport in 2005 by taking over a faltering Jaguar team, the Brit has been a part of them.
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Red Bull is back on top as they kick-started the new era of Formula 1 with a bang. Horner led the team to success with Sebastian Vettel more than ten years ago, and after a period in Mercedes’ shadow, Red Bull is back on top again.
There had been speculation that Horner, who has been with the team for 18 years, might eventually move to a top position within Formula One, but the Red Bull team boss has said he will not be leaving anytime soon.
“My heart is here, my commitment is here and the next challenge is with powertrains,” said Horner.
“We have brought a brand-new group of people together to take on some of the best engine manufacturers in the world as a subsidiary of an energy drinks company.
“That is massive so that gets me up in the morning. There is still a lot to do, I am still hungry to achieve more.”
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Horner has noted that despite spending so much time with the same team, his will to win has not changed, even at 49. He is still the youngest team boss in the paddock.
“I still have that competitive fire burning within me. At the moment, I still enjoy the competition too much to let that go and I am still the youngest CEO and team principal in the sport so I have got a few years left to use. I have got no plans to hang up my pass just yet,” Horner said.
Red Bull will need to draw on all of Horner’s experience in 2023 to defend its championships while dealing with the penalty for exceeding the cost cap for 2021.
