Christian Horner’s departure from Red Bull captured in Netflix documentary
The latest series of Netflix’s Formula One documentary Drive to Survive has unveiled touching footage of the moment Christian Horner informed his wife, Geri Halliwell, that his tenure at Red Bull had come to an end, reports BritPanorama.
Horner, who stepped down in July 2025 following a reported power struggle, received an £80 million exit package after two decades leading the team. The documentary reveals the emotional exchange between the couple as cameras captured Horner approaching Halliwell in their Cotswolds home, where he greeted her with a subdued “hey darling” before confirming, “All… all done and dusted.”
Reflecting on the preceding events, Horner recalled an unsettling discussion they had after a race in Austria. He noted, “We came back from that Austria race and I remember you sat on the bed one night and went ‘Something really bad’s gonna happen’.” Halliwell confirmed her intuition, expressing that she had anticipated they would “fire” her husband.
In his immediate reaction to the news, Horner expressed frustration, stating, “Of course your immediate reaction when you get delivered a s*** sandwich like that is, like, f*** them.” He added, “I’ve had something taken away from me that wasn’t my choice, that was very precious to me.”
The couple’s newfound experience of watching races from their sofa rather than the pit wall has been portrayed as both unusual and poignant in the series, with Halliwell becoming emotional during the broadcast. She expressed feeling “a bit sad watching this,” underscoring the personal impact of Horner’s departure from a role he held since 2005.
The episode also addressed speculation regarding whether Max Verstappen and his father Jos were involved in orchestrating Horner’s exit. However, Horner dismissed these claims, stating, “I don’t believe the Verstappens were responsible in any way. I think this was a decision that was made by Oliver Mintzlaff with Helmut (Marko) advising from the sideline.” Horner suggested that internal changes within Red Bull had contributed to his dismissal, noting that following the death of founder Dietrich Mateschitz, he may have been viewed as having too much control.
Since leaving Red Bull, Horner has expressed his desire to return to the Formula One paddock, with reports linking him to rival teams, including Aston Martin. At the European Motorshow in Dublin last week, the 52-year-old stated that he has “unfinished business in the sport,” adding, “I miss the sport, I miss the people, I miss the team that I built.”
In a world where every decision is scrutinized and emotions run high, Horner’s journey through this turbulent transition highlights the complexities of life at the pinnacle of motorsport. It serves as a reminder of the thin line separating personal and professional realms in this fiercely competitive environment.
