Christian Horner: putting Red Bull back on top

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Tom Clarkson (0:33)

After a slow start to the 2022 season, Red Bull are riding high once again, dominating on track and taking home victories time and time again.

SPEAKER_4 (0:52)

Max Verstappen from 10th on the grid comes home to win the Hungarian Grand Prix, winning the Belgian Grand Prix for a second year in a row. It's a ninth victory in Formula One in 2022 for the reigning world champion.

Tom Clarkson (1:15)

Another championship victory is within reach for Red Bull and for Max Verstappen, but it's clear that they won't let up until both titles are in the bag. Team Principal Christian Horner is sure of that.

Christian Horner (1:28)

That's the DNA of this team that you've got to go for it. We're an attacking team, we take on challenges wholeheartedly and the best form of defence is attack and I think that's the same for every single race that we're competing for the rest of this year and then the championship tables take care of themselves.

Tom Clarkson (1:45)

That appetite for competition, that determination and that attacking mentality are all themes that permeate through Red Bull Racing from the very top. They have done for years and while Christian is confident about this year, he's also cautious about the team's burgeoning successes and with so much at stake, who can blame him?

Christian Horner (2:05)

The focus is on, right, let's do the best we can in every single race and don't take anything for granted. We're in a healthy position but it's never done until it's done.

Tom Clarkson (2:17)

Hello everyone and welcome to F1 Beyond the Grid with me, Tom Clarkson. I always enjoy sitting down with Christian Horner because he's interesting, he's ambitious and he's constantly evolving as a team principal. Unbelievably, this is his 18th season as the boss of Red Bull, yet his passion and his hunger for knowledge are more akin to someone just starting out.

With this year's all new technical regulations have come new challenges for all of the teams. Red Bull have mastered them better than anyone, and Christian talks about how they've done that. He also opens up about that dramatic title showdown in Abu Dhabi 2021 He discusses his contentious relationship with Toto Wolff, and he tells us about his unwavering belief in both Max and Sergio Perez. We caught up at Red Bull's headquarters in Milton Keynes, where I found him in reflective mood, and he started by making a reference to when he first came on the show back in 2018 I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Christian, thanks for your time. Great to have you back on the show. It's been a while. A lot's gone on.

Christian Horner (3:27)

Yeah, it has. I think the last time we spoke, Daniel Ricciardo had just handed in his chips, literally, during the interview. So yeah, it's definitely been a while.

Tom Clarkson (3:38)

And funny that Daniel Ricciardo is back on the news agenda in Formula One now. It seems whenever we get together, Daniel's doing something.

Christian Horner (3:45)

Yes. Unfortunately, he's been handed his chips.

So yeah, which is a great shame because I think he's a big personality and he's a great, great driver. And he's obviously lost his way a bit, but it would be great to see him remain in the sport.

Tom Clarkson (3:58)

But before we come to all things Red Bull, would you employ Daniel Ricciardo next year if you were Alpine?

Christian Horner (4:04)

I think I probably would, to be honest with you. I think that they obviously know him from a couple of seasons ago.

He was very together during his last season there, scoring podiums. And I think he's the type of guy that I think you could rebuild him. It's obviously been not a great experience for him for whatever reason.

And you've just got to think back to some of the drives that he did for us, some of the wins that he had, the podiums, some of the stunning overtakes that he was capable of. That's still in there, I'm sure. And it just needs a bit of a reset.

Tom Clarkson (4:37)

Have you ever come across a driver to sort of lose their way in the way that Daniel has over the last two years? Is it a confidence thing?