"The day I lose that passion will be the day I stop": Red Bull boss Christian Horner on potentially leaving F1 for a different challenge

Christian Horner has ruled out the possibility of stepping down as Team Principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing or leaving Formula 1 for a new challenge. In an exclusive interview with De Telegraaf, he made it clear that his commitment to the sport remains strong and that he would only consider leaving if he ever lost his passion for the job.

Horner, who has been at the helm of Red Bull Racing since 2005, remains one of the sport’s most dedicated figures. Under his leadership, the team has claimed eight Drivers’ Championships and six Constructors’ titles. Over the past 21 years, he has never missed a race, so committed that he even skipped the birth of his daughter to attend a race.

Following a turbulent period in 2024, during which his personal life made headlines, speculation has swirled around his future. Reports have linked him with possible moves to Alpine and Ferrari, though he has dismissed these rumors as typical paddock speculation. In his recent comments, he reiterated his focus on Red Bull and his enduring enthusiasm for the sport.

Horner attributed his long-standing commitment to Formula 1 to its fiercely competitive environment and the opportunity to work with a highly skilled and motivated team. He also clarified that his role spans multiple Red Bull divisions, including Red Bull Technology on the chassis side, Red Bull Powertrains on the engine front, and Red Bull Advanced Technologies, which oversees the brand’s hypercar program.

While acknowledging that some leaders may take a step back, Horner clarified that this is not his approach. He continues to see value in staying at the front lines of team operations. As long as his passion remains, so will his presence in the sport. Looking to the future, Horner is particularly excited about Red Bull’s upcoming engine project, which will debut in 2026 under the new regulations. He views this as a defining challenge and an important chapter in the team’s growth—one he is eager to lead.

Asked what made the world of F1 so addictive, the Red Bull Racing CEO replied:

“I enjoy the competition and working with a great group of people. I have had that all my life. I am a competitive person. And I think that as a team leader you should always be present and visible. I can't do anything with the philosophy that it is also good to take a step back. As a captain you don't leave the ship."

"I combine two roles, I am not only team principal but also CEO. And that is actually of three companies: Red Bull Technology designs the chassis, Red Bull Powertrains the engine and then there is Red Bull Advanced Technologies, which produces the RB17 (the hypercar, ed.). Then you are talking about 2000 people who work under that. When I go to a circuit, I still have the same motivation as 21 years ago. The day I lose that passion will be the day I stop.”

Asked if the day when he loses his passion was near, Horner replied:

“No. I am especially very excited about our new chapter that is coming. Red Bull coming with its own engine next year will be the biggest challenge in the history of the team. We will certainly benefit in the long term from producing our own power unit with support from Ford. We will then have everything under one roof.”

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Christian Horner claims leaving or resigning from Red Bull Racing was never a consideration

Christian Horner has stated that resigning or stepping away from Red Bull was never an option, even as his personal life dominated headlines in 2024. According to Horner, leaving was not something he or those around him ever considered. He credited the organization for offering strong support during a challenging period and emphasized his sense of responsibility toward the team.

Horner highlighted the scale and significance of Red Bull’s operations, both on and off the track, and felt a duty to remain at the helm. Despite widespread calls for his resignation at the time, amid a media storm that engulfed the team, its drivers, and the broader organization, he remained firm in his commitment, believing that his continued leadership was essential during a turbulent chapter.

Asked if resigning from Red Bull was a better option, given the troubles of last year, Horner replied:

"Resigning was never an option for me. And not for the people around me either. I have always felt a lot of support, from a very nice and loyal group of people in the organization. I don't want to go into that too much. It is better to look ahead."

Asked if he never thought of leaving Red Bull, Horner said:

“No, I never seriously considered it. I feel a responsibility towards the people here. When I joined Red Bull, there were 380 people working there. Now there are about 2,000, if you take all the departments together. We raise a quarter of a billion euros a year from sponsors and marketing income. It is a huge business. And I think that the sporting results over all those years also speak for themselves. We have won 124 of the 402 races and have won a total of fourteen world championships.”

The team’s most challenging period came during the V6 hybrid era between 2016 and 2020, when Mercedes dominated the sport. Although Red Bull returned to championship-winning form with Honda power in 2021, the ambition to produce their own engine remained a long-term goal.

In line with that vision, Red Bull announced a partnership with Ford for the 2026 season, marking the debut of their first in-house power unit under the Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT) badge. Horner has overseen the RBPT project, which represents a major milestone and a new chapter for the team’s future.

Currently, Red Bull sits fourth in the Constructors’ Championship and Max Verstappen is third in the Drivers’ standings. While 2025 has proven to be a challenging season, the team faces a steep development curve as they aim to recover to at least second place in the Constructors’ standings, with Max Verstappen still in realistic contention for the Drivers’ title.