Christian Horner once described the 2005 United States Grand Prix debacle as his biggest Red Bull regret. Newer Formula One fans might not be aware that there was only one US-based F1 race twenty years ago, which took place at Indianapolis, as opposed to the three currently on the calendar.
This weekend’s action unfolded at Texas’ Circuit of the Americas, which has since been the long-time home of the US GP. Red Bull enjoyed a memorable weekend, with Max Verstappen winning both the Sprint race and the Grand Prix in Austin in dominant fashion to close the gap to Championship leader Oscar Piastri to just 40 points. But as the Dutchman eyes a potentially historic fightback to land his fifth successive title, Horner watched the action unfold from back home, having been abruptly sacked as team principal and chief executive in July after almost two decades in charge of the F1 team.
Horner was relieved of his duties with immediate effect despite overseeing huge success, including eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ championships. The 51-year-old admitted earlier this year that he poured his ‘heart and soul’ into the F1 team.
While still in charge, the Brit was asked by Planet F1 in June about the one thing he’d change from his time in charge of Red Bull if he had a time machine. But Horner didn’t name his texting scandal, past rows between drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, or the departure of design chief Adrian Newey in 2024.
He instead went all the way back to his first season at the 2005 US Grand Prix, where only six cars ended up taking part in the race in what was a major PR disaster for the sport. The rest of the field withdrew on the advice of tyre suppliers Michelin, who said their compounds were not safe for the track layout, leaving fans furious with the lack of action.
Red Bull duo David Coulthard and Christian Klien were among those who went back into the pits after the formation lap. And Horner has no doubts that the sport should have done better that day, voicing his regret at how things transpired.
“I look back now, and I look at Indianapolis 2005 and I think we could have done a better job there,” he said. “There was a lot going on, and the teams that were running on a certain tyre manufacturer didn’t race.
“I think, as a sport, we could have done better then. You’re always learning in this business. If I had to pick one moment of the 21 years, that would be it.”
