British TV icon Jeremy Clarkson has drawn a personal parallel between Christian Horner’s sudden dismissal from Red Bull Racing and his own sensational departure from the BBC, revealing he reached out to the former Formula 1 team boss with a message of encouragement.
Clarkson was ousted from the BBC in 2015 following a highly publicized physical altercation with Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon. The scandal prompted the broadcaster to terminate his contract, abruptly ending a hugely successful chapter in motoring television.
But the fallout quickly gave way to opportunity, as Amazon offered Clarkson, along with co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond, a reported $250 million deal for The Grand Tour.
The series broke streaming records upon its 2016 debut, and Clarkson would go on to revive his career further with the critically acclaimed Clarkson’s Farm, transforming a career-ending moment into a launching pad. It’s a path he now expects Horner to follow.
"I sent him a text after the news of his dismissal broke, pointing out that I've been in his shoes in the past," the Clarkson's Farm presenter wrote in his column for The Sun.
"I explained that when you wake the following morning, it's easy to think, 'Well, that's that, then'. But in my case, that wasn't that. I hadn't trodden on a snake. I'd trodden on a ladder. And I bet he does, too."
“No Inkling” of What Was Coming
Clarkson revealed that he’d spent time with Horner at last weekend’s British Grand Prix – just days before the dramatic ousting – and said there was no hint that a leadership change was imminent.
“I spent a bit of time with Christian at the [British] Grand Prix on Sunday. And it was plain he had no inkling at all that the bullet was coming,” he wrote.
What Clarkson found most striking about the meeting wasn’t Horner’s professional situation, but rather the deeply personal moment they shared.
“He was with his 11-year-old daughter, Olivia, whose mother had just died of eye cancer. And we mostly talked about that and how the poor little mite was coping.”
Where Next for Horner?
Speculation is already swirling about Horner’s next move. With 20 years of experience leading Red Bull to the top of F1, he’s likely to remain a coveted name in the paddock.
Clarkson gave his own take on potential destination – starting with one he’s not convinced will work.
“The clever money is saying he'll go to Alpine,” he wrote. “But next year they will have Mercedes engines. Which means Christian would have to work with Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff. And as those two really don't get on, I can't see that happening.”
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With Audi and Cadillac entering the sport, and talk of Chinese involvement on the horizon, Clarkson sees ample options for Horner.
“Audi is coming into the sport next year, and Cadillac. And there's talk the Chinese are making F1 noises. And all of them would jump at the chance of getting Horner,” he added.
But the future for Red Bull, Clarkson predicts, may not be so rosy without the man who guided the team to multiple titles.
“Well, look what happened to Man United when Ferguson was no longer at the helm,” he concluded. “On that basis, this once-great team may well end up, in a couple of years, in Formula 4.”
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