Christian Horner ‘couldn’t imagine’ working for any F1 team but Red Bull – ‘I’ve built the team’

Christian Horner has told talkSPORT that his loyalty to Red Bull would prevent him from ever working for another Formula 1 team.

Horner has been the face behind the pit wall at Red Bull Racing since their arrival on the grid in 2005 and they remain the team to beat.

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Horner told talkSPORT he has no plans to leave Red BullCredit: talkSPORT
The 50-year-old formed the unstoppable pairing of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, who won 21 of the 22 races last season between them.

The two Red Bull drivers eased to the 2023 Constructor’s title with their 451-point gap to Mercedes in second greater than the gap between the Silver Arrows’ and Haas in last place.

It is the sixth constructors’ championship lifted under Horner, while Verstappen’s third successive drivers’ title took that tally to seven.

Red Bull’s dominance has led to one of the biggest blockbuster moves in F1 history, with Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes.

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Hamilton is entering his 12th and final season with the Silver Arrows before joining Ferrari – who are set to be Red Bull’s main challengers – in 2025.

During an exclusive interview with talkSPORT, Horner called the Brit’s decision ‘brave’, but can’t foresee himself making a similar switch to stay in the sport if the time ever came for him to leave Red Bull.

Appearing at the launch of the RB20 challenger, Horner said: “I’ve been here since the beginning.

“I’ve built the team, I feel a tremendous loyalty to the people that work here. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.”

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Horner and Verstappen have proved an unbeatable combinationCredit: Getty

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Horner previously oversaw Sebastian Vettel’s dominance at Red Bull
Horner is the longest-serving team principal on the grid, having headed up Red Bull’s operations for their 19-year stint in F1.

With Verstappen behind the wheel, the RB20 is all-but guaranteed to deliver more success ahead of their dual-title defence in Bahrain.

The Dutchman claimed a record-breaking 19 wins in 2023 to end the year 290 points clear of teammate Perez and a further 51 clear of his nearest non-Red Bull challenger, Hamilton in third.

Horner added: “I’m incredibly proud to see what this team has achieved.

“I think the way it’s worked together as a group and across all the different departments, all the different people within the team, is hugely rewarding and exciting for the future as well so what’s been achieved here at Milton Keynes is quite special.”