Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has spoken candidly about suffering panic attacks, the psychological weight of Formula 1, and a heartbreaking family bereavement.
The 52-year-old was sacked by Red Bull in July 2025 after more than two decades as team principal at the dominant constructor.
His removal came at an extraordinarily painful moment, arriving just days after Beverley Allen, his first wife and mother of his daughter Olivia, passed away following a battle with cancer.
Horner spoke at length to The Guardian’s Donald McRae in an interview described as a fascinating and deeply moving read about the aftermath of his dismissal.
He described the manner of his firing as “particularly brutal” and “very very painful,” having presided over eight Drivers’ Championship victories and six Constructors’ titles during his tenure.
Horner received just under £67 million in compensation from Red Bull following his departure from the role.
Despite the scale of the professional blow, Horner admitted he could not immediately process what had happened because his daughter needed him far more urgently in those first weeks.
“I didn’t really process it till a month later because, in the immediate aftermath, I focused on supporting my daughter [Olivia] through a hideous period,” he revealed.
Horner praised his long-time rival Toto Wolff for speaking publicly about depression, saying it gave him a greater appreciation for the mental health challenges facing men in middle age.
“Toto was very brave to talk openly about such a factor for people our age,” Horner said, acknowledging his own new understanding of such struggles.
He reflected on how professional identity can define men entirely, warning that losing that identity without warning can have severe consequences for a person’s sense of self and purpose.
“The identity of many middle-aged guys is through their work. Suddenly you have that stripped and taken from you. Who are you? What are you? What is your purpose?” he said.
Horner also disclosed that he had suffered panic attacks during his active years in Formula 1, initially having no idea what was happening to him.
“I didn’t know what it was. You suddenly feel dizzy and conscious of your breathing and you think there’s something strange going on. I put it down to having had too much coffee on an oppressive, muggy, thundery day. Then it happened again,” he explained.
After seeking medical advice and finding no physical cause, Horner was told he was experiencing anxiety and that his breathing was unusually shallow during periods of stress.
“It was my body telling me you’re pushing pretty hard here. I’m able to recognise the symptoms now and let it go, and breathe,” he said.
Through all the professional turbulence, it was the grief surrounding his daughter that kept everything firmly in perspective for the former team boss.
“The last two years had been pretty tough but it was a particularly sensitive time, with the bereavement of my daughter’s mum the previous week. I had an 11-year-old child grieving her mother. Nothing was more important than that.”