Formula 1 Drive to Survive 8: Christian Horner blames Helmut Marko for his firing, denies Max Verstappen or Jos Verstappen’s role

The 2026 Formula One season is around the corner, and so is the eighth season of the hit Netflix series Formula 1: Drive to Survive. The show is set to release on February 27, and it promises to offer fans what they wanted, the real reason behind Christian Horner’s sudden exit from Red Bull. Horner gave a tell-all interview for the show in which he clearly blamed Helmut Marko for pushing the bosses to fire him, but denied that Max Verstappen or his father, Jos Verstappen, had any role in it, despite the latter not liking him much.

Christian Horner points to Helmut Marko in Red Bull firing

The fourth episode of Formula 1: Drive to Survive, titled “A Bull With No Horns,” features Christian Horner talking about his sudden exit after the British Grand Prix. The day after Verstappen finished fifth at Silverstone despite being the pole-sitter, Horner was called to London and personally shown the door after his 20 years as Red Bull team principal. Red Bull won eight Drivers’ Championships and six Constructors’ Championships during his tenure, along with 124 Grand Prix victories.

“I feel a real sense of loss and hurt. It was all rather sudden. I didn’t really get the chance to say a proper goodbye. I never imagined being in this position. Of course, your immediate reaction when you’re delivered a sandwich like that is to say, ‘F--- them.’ I had something taken away from me that wasn’t my choice, and it was very precious to me,” he said on the show.

Further sharing his understanding of the events behind his exit, he said, “I think this was a decision made by Oliver Mintzlaff, with Helmut Marko advising from the sidelines. Ultimately, things changed within the business and the group. The founder died, and after Dietrich Mateschitz’s death, I was probably deemed to have maybe too much control.”

Christian Horner doesn’t believe Max Verstappen or Jos Verstappen had a role in his exit

Christian Horner, however, gave the Verstappens a clean chit in having any hand in his exit from Red Bull. “His father has never been my biggest fan. He’s been outspoken about me. But I don’t believe the Verstappens were responsible in any way,” he said.

Max Verstappen won four F1 World Championships with Horner as the Red Bull team principal. He even shared a farewell note for Horner on social media. He wrote alongside a picture of them sharing a hug, “From my first race win to four world championships, we have shared incredible successes - winning memorable races and breaking countless records. Thank you for everything, Christian!”

Interestingly, Marko, 82, left Red Bull at the end of last season. He accused Horner of playing “dirty games” for power after the death of Dietrich Mateschitz, and it was Max Verstappen who saved Horner from facing action in 2024.

Also read: Max Verstappen spoils Kelly Piquet with romantic Valentine’s Day celebration in Florence

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