The Mind of a F1 Team Principal:Christian Horner on F1& More - Part 1

Ed Bernardon (0:00)

The exciting sport of Formula 1 Racing has a lot more intricacies than most people know. What does it take to manage an F1 Team? What are the priorities? How do you manage your drivers? Well, according to Christian Horner, Team Principal for Oracle Red Bull Racing, and today's guests on the show, work culture should be inclusive, fun, and built on solid teamwork.

In part one of this interview, Christian and I talk about some of the biggest changes he's seen in F1 during his motorsports career. What it's been like working with incredibly talented drivers all these years, and how Oracle Red Bull Racing is balancing changes to F1 regulations while still maximizing performance. And a whole lot more.

Thank Today, I'm speaking to someone that's a race car driver. He's founded in the past his own racing team. He's a team principal for a Formula One team that's won 13 championships, broken all sorts of records along the way, and he's even one of the big stars on the Netflix Drive to Survive series. I am really looking forward to my conversation with Christian Horner, team principal for Oracle Red Bull Racing. Christian, welcome to the podcast.

Christian Horner (1:26)

Thank you very much.

Ed Bernardon (1:28)

So you've had a great year, won two in the finish, you've won the championship Constructors Drivers, and then after you win a championship, you're all excited, you're partying, prize giving with the FIA, and then the holidays come, you can step back, relax, you're on vacation, you try and let work go.

But in the back of your mind, racing is probably popping in and out. So now that you've had a little bit of time to reflect for the last few weeks, how have your ambitions and your expectations of what you think you can achieve in the coming year changed?

Christian Horner (2:05)

They haven't really changed because the problem is this business never stays still. So even though we've achieved all those things in 2023, your mind immediately, from the point that the championships are sealed, are already into the following season, into the future, into 2026 with a brand new set of regulations coming down the pipeline as well. So, yes, Christmas is a great time, and New Year holidays for a bit of time with the family. They get used to having you around. Also, this time of year, there's not as much travel as during the race season, but it's been a bit of time for reflection, but everybody's hit the ground running very hard as 2024 has kicked off.

Ed Bernardon (2:45)

When you're on vacation, when you're through the holidays, does racing pop into your mind a lot, or would you say it's almost gone completely?

Christian Horner (2:51)

You know, if you're a racer at heart, it's always in there somewhere. And it's important to be able to get downtime, spend time with your family and recharge. Otherwise, it's unsustainable being consumed by Formula One for 365 days of the year.

Ed Bernardon (3:05)

Are you fully recharged right now?

Christian Horner (3:08)

You know, I had a good break. There was the first mandatory break over the Christmas holidays enforced by the governing body, which was, I think, a really positive thing. So everybody's refreshed and recharged and ready for the season ahead.

Ed Bernardon (3:20)

What's the most fun thing you did during the break? Most fun.

Christian Horner (3:23)

I think it was just spending time with my family. And yeah, you know, we got to do things that we don't usually get to do as a family during that time. I've got a young family, and it's always just great to get time with them.

Ed Bernardon (3:35)

So when you started as team principal, you're 31 years old, 2005, you celebrated your 50th birthday last November. So you're almost 20 years that you've had this job.

So over those 20 years, how would you say what are the biggest changes that you've seen in Formula and what do you think are the things that has made the sport evolve the most? Let's just say from a technology standpoint, the big changes over the time you've been principal here.

Christian Horner (4:03)

I think the technology has just moved forward immensely from the point that I arrived, the simulation tools we use now are so advanced. All of the tools that we work with, the regulations have changed dramatically since I arrived at the beginning of 2005 with several major regulation iterations.

Ed Bernardon (4:18)

What's the biggest regulation you think has had an impact on how you had to engineer the car?

Christian Horner (4:22)

Well, I think there's been a few along the way. I mean, there was a big change from 2018 to 2009 as the car's aerodynamics got changed dramatically. There was a big change then in 2013 into 2014 with a massive engine formula change.