Christian Horner explains Oracle Red Bull Racing’s flying start to the 2023 season

CEO & Team Principal Christian Horner joins our host Nicola Hume to chat about Oracle Red Bull Racing’s flying start to the 2023 season. Christian reveals who he thinks will be their biggest contenders this year, why he brought Daniel Ricciardo back as third driver and he tells the story of how he became an F1 Team Principal at the age of just 31.

Christian also chooses the first item to go in our new 'Oracle Red Bull Racing in 100 Objects' hall of fame, he answers a load of your fan questions, plus he's quizzed on his knowledge of iconic radio messages over the years.

The Talking Bull podcast, sponsored by HP Poly, delves into the world of Oracle Red Bull Racing, exploring the team's journey from Formula One rookies to World Championship winners. Team Principal Christian Horner joins host Nicola Hume for an insightful conversation.

1. **Impressive Start to the 2023 Season:**
- Red Bull has had a remarkable start to the 2023 season, winning the first three races and securing two one-two finishes.
- Horner expresses his delight at the team's performance, acknowledging that it's the most successful start in their history.
- He remains cautious, emphasizing the need to stay focused and avoid complacency.

2. **Contenders and Potential Threats:**
- Horner identifies Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Mercedes as potential threats, acknowledging their ability to make significant progress during the season.
- He highlights Fernando Alonso's impressive driving for Aston Martin and expects Ferrari and Mercedes to make strides at some point.
- Horner also mentions Alpine as a team showing flashes of pace and form.

3. **Confidence in the Team:**
- Despite the strong start, Horner emphasizes the importance of treating each race individually and focusing on delivering the best performance.
- He believes that the championship tables tend to take care of themselves when the team consistently maximizes its potential.

4. **Areas of Pride and Concern:**
- Horner expresses pride in the team's achievement of a 1-2 finish in the first race and the incredible winter effort put in by the entire team.
- He acknowledges reliability issues in the first two races and mentions a driveshaft problem with Max Verstappen in Saudi Arabia.
- Horner emphasizes the numerous complex factors that can disrupt the team's flow, including weather conditions and incidents on the track.

5. **Reliability as a Challenge:**
- Horner acknowledges that reliability is a constant concern, especially with the complexity of the new cars.
- He believes in making one's own luck and emphasizes the importance of grabbing every opportunity.
- Horner stresses the need for attention to detail and leaving no stone unturned to achieve success.

6. **Balancing Pressure and Relaxation:**
- Horner manages the intense pressure of his role by spending time with his young children.
- He enjoys Lego and outdoor activities to unwind and recharge.
- Horner acknowledges that while there's a perception of a break during the non-race period, the team remains actively engaged in development and preparations for the upcoming season.

7. **The Constructors' World Championship Trophy:**
- Horner presents the Constructors' World Championship trophy, a symbol of Red Bull's success.
- He explains the process of receiving and returning the trophy, with the team keeping a replica.
- Horner expresses uncertainty about whether the trophy he has is the real one or a replica.

8. **Horner's Journey to Red Bull:**
- Horner recounts his racing career, starting from go-karts and progressing through various Formula series.
- He established his own team in Formula 2 and competed against Helmut Marko's team.
- Horner explains how he got involved with Red Bull, initially through a driver placement and later through an opportunity to purchase the Jordan team.
- He highlights the pivotal moment when Adrian Newey joined Red Bull, which significantly boosted the team's credibility and attracted top talent.

9. **Evolution of Red Bull's Image:**
- Horner discusses Red Bull's initial perception as a "party team" due to its unconventional approach.
- He emphasizes that the team's focus on fun and self-expression did not diminish its determination to win.
- Horner credits the team's "can-do" mentality, sense of teamwork, and shared investment in the car's performance as key factors in their success.

10. **Driver Selection Criteria:**
- Horner explains that while speed is essential, he also looks for drivers who are affordable.
- He highlights the team's success in developing young talent, including Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo, and Carlos Sainz.
- Horner emphasizes the importance of giving young drivers opportunities and providing them with the right environment to thrive.

11. **Fan Perception of Drivers:**
- Horner acknowledges that fan perception of drivers can evolve over time.
- He cites Sebastian Vettel as an example, whose popularity grew as he matured and became more expressive.
- Horner contrasts Vettel's reserved nature with Max Verstappen's more open and passionate demeanor, which has garnered significant fan support.

12. **Managing Driver Dynamics:**
- Horner emphasizes the importance of treating both drivers equally and ensuring they have the same opportunities.
- He explains that the team scrupulously ensures fairness in terms of upgrades, parts distribution, and even the order in which drivers exit the garage for qualifying sessions.

13. **Daniel Ricciardo's Return:**
- Horner expresses his delight at having Daniel Ricciardo back in the team.
- He acknowledges that Ricciardo had lost some of his passion for the sport in recent years but believes he is rediscovering his love for racing.
- Horner highlights Ricciardo's positive impact on the team's atmosphere and his contributions as a reserve driver.

14. **Overcoming Adversity:**
- Horner reflects on the challenges faced by the team, particularly during the 2014 season when they struggled with a non-competitive engine.
- He emphasizes the importance of focusing on controllable factors and seizing opportunities.
- Horner credits the team's resilience and determination in overcoming adversity and eventually returning to a winning position.

15. **Anticipation for the Las Vegas Grand Prix:**
- Horner expresses excitement about the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix, acknowledging the unprecedented hype and interest surrounding the race.
- He mentions his upcoming 50th birthday coinciding with the race weekend and sees it as a unique opportunity to celebrate the milestone. # Podcast Episode Summary: Christian Horner, Team Principal of Red Bull Racing


## Building Confidence in Drivers

- Nimish from India asks how Horner instills confidence in drivers after a series of poor results or a crash.
- Horner emphasizes the importance of open and honest communication with drivers and team members.
- He believes that confidence is crucial, and drivers need to feel supported and trusted by the team to deliver their best performances.

## Maintaining Composure During Races

- Thanishka from India inquires about how Horner stays calm during races, given the immense pressure and information overload.
- Horner describes the race environment as a busy air traffic control center with constant information flow.
- He explains the importance of staying calm and making informed decisions rather than acting impulsively.
- Horner's calm demeanor during races is noted and appreciated by the host.

## Reflecting on 18 Years at Red Bull

- Sophie Anne from France asks Horner to describe his 18 years at Red Bull in three words.
- Horner chooses "amazing," "rewarding," and "fulfilling" to encapsulate his time with the team.
- He expresses gratitude for working with exceptional team members and achieving numerous successes, including world championships, race wins, pole positions, and fastest laps.

## Backup Plan and Desire to Race

- The host asks Horner about his backup plan if he were not in his current role.
- Horner admits that he never had a backup plan and would likely be unemployed or working outdoors.
- He emphasizes his passion for motorsport and his decision to apply himself in a different area within the sport when he realized he was not a top-tier driver.
- Horner expresses no desire to return to racing, citing the physical demands and brutality of modern Formula One cars.

## Driver Identification Challenge

- The host presents Horner with three audio clips of drivers and challenges him to identify the driver, race, and year.
- Horner correctly identifies Sebastian Vettel in the first clip, but mistakenly guesses the race as the 2013 Indian Grand Prix instead of the 2013 US Grand Prix.
- He correctly identifies Daniil Kvyat in the second clip but incorrectly guesses the race as the 2016 Russian Grand Prix instead of the 2015 US Grand Prix.
- Horner correctly identifies Max Verstappen in the third clip but incorrectly guesses the race as the 2022 Miami Grand Prix instead of the 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

## Conclusion

- The host thanks Horner for his time and wishes him luck for the rest of the season.
- The podcast episode concludes with a teaser for the next episode, featuring legendary designer Adrian Newey.