Horner Recalled Tensions With Ricciardo
The Red Bull team principal once levied unconventional financial penalties following a 2018 team collision.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Motorsports
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Christian Horner, who has led Red Bull to six constructors' championships, famously forced Daniel Ricciardo to pay for a Christmas bar bill following a collision in 2018. Horner also accused the driver of expensing individual water bottles to the team during his tenure.
Why it matters
The anecdotes highlight the intense and often abrasive management style employed by Horner during his two-decade tenure at Red Bull. These internal frictions occurred as the team built a dominant era, including Max Verstappen's four consecutive world titles from 2021 to 2024.
Red Bull secured six constructors' championships and eight drivers' titles under Horner's 20-year leadership. Daniel Ricciardo, who returned as a reserve in 2023 before being replaced by Liam Lawson in September 2024, holds an estimated net worth of £38 million.
The players
Christian Horner
He is the long-serving team principal of Red Bull Racing who has overseen the team's most successful era in Formula 1 history.
Daniel Ricciardo
He is a professional race car driver who achieved multiple podium finishes and twice placed third in the drivers' standings while with Red Bull.
Max Verstappen
He is a multi-time Formula 1 world champion who has served as the primary driver for Red Bull Racing since his promotion to the team.
Liam Lawson
He is a professional driver who took over the racing seat previously held by Daniel Ricciardo in late 2024.
The details
Horner utilized the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix collision between Ricciardo and Max Verstappen as justification for charging drivers for the team's holiday expenses. Beyond the bar bill incident, Horner also claimed that Ricciardo frequently expensed minor items like water bottles to the team during his time with the organization.
Timeline
In 2018, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen collided at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Between 2021 and 2024, Max Verstappen won four consecutive world championships.
Daniel Ricciardo returned to Red Bull as a reserve driver in 2023.
Liam Lawson replaced Daniel Ricciardo in September 2024.
The Big Picture
This story follows the pattern set by the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix collision, which remains a primary benchmark for internal Red Bull management interventions.
Ricciardo's removal in favor of Liam Lawson marks the end of a long-standing chapter in the Red Bull driver lineup. This shift in the roster impacts the broader constructor standings and the team's development strategy heading into future race seasons.
The takeaway
Management styles in professional racing often rely on unorthodox methods to enforce accountability after high-stakes errors. These internal anecdotes highlight the tension inherent in teams managing world-class drivers with massive individual profiles.
Further reading
For more on the latest team developments and leadership news, visit our Motorsports section.
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