Horner reveals shock moment: 'Obvious the end goal was for me to leave Red Bull'

The moment Red Bull boss Christian Horner learns of a leak of alleged WhatsApp messages is captured during the latest season of Drive to Survive on Netflix.

Heading into the 2024 season-opener in Bahrain, Horner was under investigation by Red Bull GmbH after allegations of inappropriate behaviour from a Red Bull employee, although he denied the claims against him. 

The Red Bull investigation ultimately cleared him, but 24 hours later, during Friday practice in Bahrain, a tranch of WhatsApp messages purported to be between Horner and the woman were leaked to F1 media, team bosses and senior figures within grand prix racing.

This moment is captured by Netflix's cameras, with the storyline forming a key block of the opening episode of the 10-part series, released globally on Friday March 7th. 

Horner is seen sitting on the pit-wall next to Adrian Newey, before explaining what happened next in sit-down interview.

"At the end of the second practice, suddenly my phone starts getting messages and this, that and the other," he says.

"There's a bombshell that's dropped with a bunch of alleged messages.

"It was obviously premeditated to cause me the maximum amount of distraction, the maximum amount of aggravation.

"It was obvious that the end goal was for me to leave Red Bull."

Paddock figures including Toto Wolff and Zak Brown are seen talking on their phones after receiving the messages, with Horner then asked if he knew who was behind the leak.

"That is the multi-million dollar question," he replied, before looking straight down the camera when the interviewer then asks "that you know the answer to."

You can read RacingNews365's review of Drive to Survive Season 7 here.