Christian Horner offered a glimpse into the ‘different horse power’ he has been working with ahead of the first Formula One Grand Prix since his sacking by Red Bull.
Horner was dismissed as team principal on earlier this month after 20 years at the constructor, having overseen the team’s transformation from upstart on the grid to winner of six constructors’ championships and eight drivers’ championships.
While the official reason for Horner’s firing remains unstated, it comes almost exactly a year after the former team principal was engulfed in a high-profile investigation.
In February last year, the 51-year-old was accused of sexual harassment and coercive and controlling behaviour by a female employee. He was twice cleared, initially after an internal investigation conducted by a lawyer, and then by another lawyer who dismissed the female employee’s appeal.
The episode cast a long shadow over the team, though, and left Horner’s public image severely tarnished.
Horner has been replaced by Laurent Mekies at the helm of the team as the F1 season continues at the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend. And keen to show he is making the most of his time away from the sport, Horner posted a tongue-in-cheek story on Instagram revealing his involvement in a more natural form of speed.
Christian Horner offered a glimpse into the ‘different horse power’ he has been working with ahead of the first Formula One Grand Prix since his sacking by Red Bull.
Horner was dismissed as team principal on earlier this month after 20 years at the constructor
The video posted to the 51-year-old’s account showed him riding a horse along a country lane, in addition to an image of him atop his steed in front of a barn.
Horner accompanied the images with the caption: ‘Different horse power this Sunday.’
On Saturday, Max Verstappen won the first race since the sudden sacking of Horner – a first-lap overtake setting up the Red Bull man for victory in the sprint at the Belgian GP.
In claiming victory, Verstappen took advantage of a skinny rear wing, which helps achieve superior straight-line speed, as well as a tow along the Kemmel Straight, to make the decisive pass on McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, the pole man, at Les Combes.
‘Well done, Max,’ Mekies told Verstappen over the radio. ‘Very, very impressive defence, very well controlled. You didn’t leave anything on the table there.’
‘Thank you, Laurent,’ replied the four-time champion.
Ahead of Sunday’s race, Jos Verstappen – Max’s father and a vocal critic of Horner, was asked if he was happy with the 51-year-old dismissal.
‘They decided to change so I’m fine with everything,’ Verstappen Sr told Sky Sports. ‘As long as it works.’
On comments he made last year that Horner ‘needed to go’, he added: ‘It’s different. I have nothing to say.’
