Christian Horner safeguarded Red Bull’s secrets from airing on Netflix’s Drive to Survive using his ‘get out of jail free card’
Christian Horner reveals that he withheld crucial footage of Red Bull from being aired on Netflix's documentary series, drive to Survive
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Christian Horner, Red Bull's team principal (Credits: Essentially Sports)
Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, admitted exercising his privilege by vetoing crucial internal footage in Netflix’s documentary series Drive to Survive. The show provides captivating behind-the-scenes access, expanding Formula 1’s appeal. However, Horner’s decision underscores the challenge of maintaining a truthful narrative while safeguarding the team’s interests.
Horner acknowledged the large amount of information acquired by the Drive to Survive crew in a recent interview. The potential for humiliating moments is immense, with microphones capturing every chat and cameras hidden around the team. The Briton noted the challenge of differentiating between Netflix’s cameras and others, leading to occasional forgetfulness. This is due to their constant presence and the difficulty in distinguishing them.
At the end of the season, the Drive to Survive team presents each team with a selection of clips. However, Christian Horner expressed concerns about the lack of context when these clips are viewed in isolation. According to him, the only way they can get prevent a footage from airing is when they have their Technical IP at the crest. He said, “the only get out of jail free card we’ve got – that there’s some technical IP that we don’t want them to see.”
At the end of the season, the Drive to Survive team presents the teams with a selection of clips. However, Horner expressed his concern that these clips may lack proper context when viewed in isolation. He reflected on the possibility of having said things during unguarded moments, questioning, “Did I really say that? Did I really call someone a ‘See You Next Tuesday’?”
Christian Horner backs Lewis Hamilton calling drivers on DTS as Kardashians on wheels
While Drive to Survive has been praised for providing an intimate glimpse into the lives of Formula 1 drivers and team leaders, it has also faced criticism. Lewis Hamilton likened the series to a “Kardashian show,” a sentiment echoed by Horner. He acknowledged that the show had changed people’s perception of the sport, allowing fans to delve deeper into the personalities, triumphs, and struggles of those involved. However, Horner also noted that the show’s focus was on controversies and “just looking for Guenther Steiner to lose it, or for me and my friend Toto [Wolff] to have a little bit of jousting.”
Considering Red Bull’s current dominance in the 2023 season, the team is understandably cautious about revealing too much. The drama generated by the show in the past has made some team members wary, as Max Verstappen opted out of being featured in 2021 to avoid unnecessary drama.
In Drive to Survive, Horner emphasized the need to balance entertainment value and team limits. Formula 1 is a high-stakes race that shows technological competence, sports skill, and strategic insight. As the documentary series progresses, viewers eagerly await the 2023 edition.
They anticipate Red Bull’s approach to transparency while safeguarding their secrets. To emphasize the importance of protecting private information, internal footage remains blocked. However, this ensures an entertaining behind-the-scenes experience for the audience.
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Rohit Bhaskar
(727 Articles Published)