Christian Horner, the former Formula One boss, has shared how his grieving 11-year-old daughter, Olivia, provided him with the strength to endure his unexpected sacking from Red Bull. The dismissal occurred just one week after the death of Olivia's mother.

Horner, 52, married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, 54, described the experience of losing his two-decade-long position at Red Bull. He recalled attending his daughter Olivia's end-of-year school awards ceremony on the same day he was dismissed. At the time, the news had not yet been made public, so no one at the school was aware of his situation.

"I stood there and I watched this 11-year-old little girl go onto the stage. She'd lost her mum the week before," Horner recounted on the High Performance podcast. "And I thought, you know what, if she's got the bravery to do that, then what I'm dealing with is nothing."

Olivia's mother, Horner's former partner Beverley Allen, had passed away at the age of 58 after a battle with eye cancer. Horner stated that witnessing his daughter's courage on that difficult day gave him the perspective needed to face his own challenges. He emphasized the importance of telling Olivia how proud he is of her daily.

Horner was dismissed as Red Bull's team principal and chief executive in July 2025, concluding a tenure during which he oversaw 14 world championship titles. Newly filed accounts for Red Bull Technology have disclosed a payment of £66.988 million for loss of office, widely reported as his severance package. The company's accounts also recorded over £9 million in separate remuneration, bringing the total reported package to more than £76 million.

Recounting his dismissal, Horner stated he was summoned to London for what he believed would be a marketing discussion, only to be informed that Red Bull intended to pursue a different direction. His initial reaction, he admitted, was relief, as tensions within the team had been affecting his well-being despite the team's success. He noted that his wife, Geri, had observed his unhappiness, stating, "I've never seen you so unhappy." He acknowledged that success at the top can sometimes feel empty and that personal frustrations can impact loved ones.

Geri had also expressed concerns to Horner shortly before his dismissal, sensing that his colleagues no longer valued him. "I think something's going to happen. I think that they don't want you anymore. They don't value you," she reportedly told him. Horner acknowledged that she was likely correct and that he had found the prospect difficult to accept.

The couple's marriage had previously faced public scrutiny following allegations made against Christian by a female Red Bull employee in 2024. Horner denied all wrongdoing, and two independent investigations ultimately dismissed the complaint. Geri publicly supported her husband throughout this period, appearing with him at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Horner praised her for her strength, describing her resolve as "balls of steel" and emphasizing their unity as a couple.

Despite the substantial settlement, Horner admitted that a part of him initially desired retribution against Red Bull. "When I first came out of the sport, it was like, how do I get back? There's an element of f*** you to it," he said. "I want to prove [to] all these people - I'm going to go and take all the people and I'm going to build it up again and I'm going to go again."

However, his perspective shifted as he spent more time with his family. During his career at Red Bull, Horner had attended 404 consecutive Grands Prix, missing significant family events, including his daughter's birth and birthdays. He expressed gratitude for the time he was able to spend with his children during this period of grief, time he would not have had if he had remained on the demanding race schedule. Horner now values attending his children's hockey matches, parent-teacher evenings, and school pick-ups, recognizing the irreplaceable nature of this time.