The biggest surprises from Christian Horner’s new book, including a shocking firing decision
Christian Horner, the former Red Bull F1 team boss, has been in the spotlight lately with the release of his new autobiography, *Drive*. His book is full of surprising stories, from almost signing some big-name drivers to nearly losing his own job after just a year.
Horner also shares personal struggles, including a heartbreaking loss in his family during a tough time in his career. He’s opened up about these moments while promoting his book, and here are some of the biggest surprises.
One eye-catching story is that Fernando Alonso almost joined Red Bull in 2008. Alonso had a multi-year deal with McLaren, but things quickly went downhill after his new teammate, Lewis Hamilton, started winning races. Despite Alonso winning four races that season, he didn’t get the support he wanted from McLaren and wanted to leave. That’s when Horner and Red Bull stepped in.
“Fernando was the closest we ever got; paperwork was even exchanged,” Horner told *The Race*. But there was a problem: Alonso—or his management—only wanted a one-year deal, while Red Bull wanted a longer commitment. Dietrich Mateschitz, Red Bull’s founder, was worried Red Bull would just be a temporary stop for Alonso before he moved on to Ferrari.
Though they didn’t sign Alonso then, Horner says they thought about him again in 2010 when Flavio Briatore, who managed Alonso and ran Renault at the time, suggested a driver swap with Mark Webber. But the first chance in 2008 was the closest they came.
Horner’s time at Red Bull was mostly successful, with many world titles and race wins, but his job wasn’t always safe. After a strong start in 2005, the team struggled in 2006, scoring just two points in six races. Red Bull’s top bosses were even deciding between keeping Horner or replacing him with Guenther Steiner, who later led Haas.
Horner shared on David Coulthard’s podcast that his contract wasn’t going to be renewed before the Monaco Grand Prix. Luckily, Coulthard’s third place in Monaco saved the season—and Horner’s job.
“It was a tense time, and I always felt like I had to watch my back,” Horner said. He credited the team’s strong performances and new car designer Adrian Newey for turning things around.
Leaving the team in 2025 was tough for Horner, but his personal life was even harder. His ex-partner, Beverly Allen, who was the mother of his daughter Olivia, sadly passed away from eye cancer at 58. Horner called that period “very painful” and said he focused on supporting Olivia through the hard times before he could process his own grief.
By 2012, Horner and Red Bull were at their peak, winning multiple championships with Sebastian Vettel, while Mercedes was struggling after their return to F1. Niki Lauda, Mercedes’ non-executive director and a racing legend, thought Horner could help the team and surprised him with an offer to join Mercedes as team principal.
Though Lauda made a tempting offer with a big salary, Horner wasn’t interested. He felt loyal to Red Bull and their founder Dietrich Mateschitz, saying, “I’ve been winning World Championships with Red Bull. I’ve built everything from scratch.” So, he politely declined.
Horner’s book is full of moments like this—times when things could have gone very differently. It’s a fascinating look at his career and life in the fast lane.