Here's the thing about Formula 1—sometimes the paddock drama off the track outlasts the battles on it. As Crash.net reports, Christian Horner has taken a sharp jab at his old colleague Guenther Steiner, pointing out that the former team principal is now far more famous for his on-screen personality than his actual racing career. It is a ruthless observation, but one rooted in the strange new reality of the sport.
While Horner spent his years leading Red Bull to victories and world championships, Steiner was steering Haas from 2014 through 2023, steering the outfit to a peak Constructors' Championship finish of fifth back in 2018. But as we all know, the paddock changed when Netflix arrived. Steiner became a global household name through his prominent appearances on Drive To Survive, finding a level of fame that his results on the pit wall never quite matched.
But good for him. He's a character, a pretty scary character when he worked for us, but yeah, he's brought a whole new fan base to the sport, and that's been fantastic.
Speaking in a recent interview with Autosport, Horner didn't hold back when assessing how the hit documentary series reshaped public perception. "These guys are making a TV show, so they're collecting hours and hours and hours of footage, and it all depends on how you edit something," Horner explained. "You can make someone look like a villain or a hero, or vice versa. That show was incredibly successful because it suddenly lifted the veil on certain rivalries, personalities, the personalities of the pilots, and certain characters."
Then came the punchline that cuts right to the bone of the matter. "Guenther Steiner has built a career out of this… I mean, I don't think he's ever scored a podium in Formula 1!" Horner said. Even so, there was a brief nod of respect mixed into the teasing: "But good for him. He's a character, a pretty scary character when he worked for us, but yeah, he's brought a whole new fan base to the sport, and that's been fantastic."
Both men find themselves watching from the outside now. Steiner exited the sport when his contract was not renewed by Haas following the 2023 Formula 1 season, while Horner was dismissed from his role at Red Bull during the 2025 season. Amid swirling speculation about a potential return to the pit lane, the Brit recently stamped out rumours suggesting he was lined up to replace Fred Vasseur as the team principal at Ferrari.
