Christian Horner's autobiography sparks conflict with Helmut Marko

The publication of Christian Horner’s autobiography, ‘Drive’, has reignited a bitter feud between the former Red Bull Racing Team Principal and long-time advisor Helmut Marko. Horner describes his 2025 departure from the team as a sudden and “brutal” process following the death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, noting that the organizational structure shifted toward more centralized management.

In the book, Horner accuses Marko of leaking sensitive technical and operational information, which he claims led staff members like Adrian Newey to limit the details shared with the advisor. Marko has vehemently rejected these claims, labeling the book a “collection of lies on such a low level” that he refuses to engage with them individually. Marko specifically disputed Horner’s assertion that he failed to offer condolences following the death of Horner’s former partner, Beverly, citing phone records as evidence of his support.

Marko also criticized the timing of the book’s release, which coincided with the fourth anniversary of Mateschitz’s death, calling the decision “embarrassing.”

Separately, Horner revealed in the autobiography that Lewis Hamilton had expressed a preference to join Red Bull rather than Mercedes during a period when the driver was seeking a fresh start at McLaren. Regarding his own future, Horner stated he is open to returning to Formula 1, potentially as a shareholder in a team, though he has distanced himself from recent interest regarding Alpine.