The latest series of Netflix’s Formula One documentary Drive to Survive has unveiled touching footage of the moment Christian Horner informed his wife, Geri Halliwell, that his tenure at Red Bull had come to an end.
The former team principal, who departed the constructor in July 2025 following a reported power struggle, received an £80million exit package after two decades at the helm.
Cameras captured Horner approaching Halliwell in their Cotswolds home, greeting her with a subdued “hey darling” before confirming: “All… all done and dusted.”
During the documentary, Horner recalled: “We came back from that Austria race and I remember you sat on the bed one night and went ‘Something really bad’s gonna happen’.”
Halliwell confirmed she had predicted they would “fire” her husband.
In his initial reaction to losing the role, Horner said: “Of course your immediate reaction when you get delivered a s*** sandwich like that is, like, f*** them.”
“I’ve had something taken away from me that wasn’t my choice, that was very precious to me.”
The documentary also captured the couple’s unfamiliar experience of watching races from their sofa rather than the pit wall.
Christian Horner informed his wife, Geri Halliwell, that his tenure at Red Bull had come to an end
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Horner said: “You haven’t got any of the data here really! Well, normally I would have a whole bunch of noise in my ears. So it’s like you’re blind.”
Halliwell, 53, grew tearful during the broadcast, admitting she felt “a bit sad watching this”.
The former team principal had occupied his position since 2005, making the adjustment particularly jarring.
The episode addressed widespread speculation that Max Verstappen and his father Jos had engineered Horner’s exit from the team.
Halliwell confirmed she had predicted they would ‘fire’ her husband
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Horner said: “His father has never been my biggest fan. He’s been outspoken about me.”
However, the former team boss dismissed suggestions the Verstappens were behind his dismissal.
He added: ” I don’t believe the Verstappens were responsible in any way. I think this was a decision that was made by Oliver Mintzlaff with Helmut (Marko) advising from the sideline.
“Ultimately things changed within the business, the group, the founder died and after Dietrich [Mateschitz’s] death I was probably deemed to have too much control.”
Christian Horner and Geri Halliwell have been married since 2015 | GettySince leaving Red Bull, Horner has made clear his ambition to rejoin the Formula One paddock, with links to rival outfits, including Aston Martin, circulating in recent months.
Speaking at the European Motorshow in Dublin last week, the 52-year-old declared he had “unfinished business in the sport”.
He added: “I am not going to come back for just anything. I am only going to come back for something that can win.
“I don’t want to go back in the paddock unless I have something to do. I miss the sport, I miss the people, I miss the team that I built.”
