Red Bull boss Christian Horner.
Christian Horner got behind the wheel of the Red Bull RB8 at Silverstone in preparation to stand-in for Sebastian Vettel at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson was in action in Red Bull’s current challenger, the RB20, on Thursday at Silverstone as part of a filming day, though it seems he was not alone in lapping a Red Bull challenger around Silverstone.
Christian Horner Silverstone outing ahead of Goodwood
Reuters report that Horner – who retired from racing in 1998 and has served as Red Bull team principal since they joined the F1 grid in 2005 – drove Vettel’s 2012 title-winning Red Bull RB8 at Silverstone as he prepares to take Vettel’s place in the team’s 20-year celebration at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
“At the RB8 Silverstone outing, Horner expressed his enjoyment by stating, ‘It was a great time!'”
“This is my first experience driving a Red Bull car, and it’s also my first time using a hand clutch and only two pedals.”
Horner clarified the reason behind his appearance as Vettel’s replacement at Goodwood. Due to Vettel being on a family vacation and unable to attend, Horner decided to step up and take on the role of filling in for the esteemed four-time World Champion, as he was encouraged to do so.
Horner revealed that Sebastian Vettel, who was originally scheduled to drive one of the cars at Goodwood, couldn’t make it due to his family vacation. In light of this, the team suggested that Horner should take the opportunity to drive instead.
The last time I drove a single-seater was in 1998, and the last time I drove a Formula 1 car was in 1993.
Yesterday, I had the incredible opportunity to drive a car equipped with a hand clutch and a left-foot brake. It was truly an honor and a privilege to be behind the wheel of such an extraordinary vehicle, a car that had achieved championship-winning status.
“I will be filling in for Sebastian at Goodwood for the entire weekend.”
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On Friday, Red Bull unveiled their newest creation, the RB17 hypercar, as a part of their 20th-anniversary celebration at Goodwood. This project was led by chief technical officer Adrian Newey, who will be leaving the company after the first quarter of 2025, making it his final endeavor with Red Bull.
There will be a production limit of only 50 of the creations valued at £5 million.
Newey expressed his thoughts on the RB17, stating that he had been considering the idea of creating our own Hypercar for a long time. Designing it from scratch and seeing it through to completion has been an incredible project and adventure.
It is truly remarkable that the day has finally arrived when we can unveil and witness the birth of the RB17.
The RB17 Hypercar encapsulates our core values: unrivaled power, velocity, and elegance.
We ensured that our design accommodates two people, allowing the enjoyment of driving at F1 speeds with a companion, while being highly versatile in its capabilities.
As part of the team’s 20th anniversary celebrations, seven Red Bull F1 cars, including one driven by Horner, will take on the famous Goodwood hill. Max Verstappen, the three-time World Champion and current leader of the F1 2024 Championship, will make his debut at the event on Sunday.
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