Chris Horner Weighs In on Kimi Antonelli

The countdown is on for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will have his first chance to win his first Formula 1 World Championship as early as Sunday—at just 20 years old. In an interview with Autosport, former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner shared his thoughts on the very young Mercedes driver, who has taken the entire F1 circuit by storm this year.

“It’s very difficult to please everyone all the time,” Horner explained, speaking about managing an F1 team. “In the end, the team comes first, and the drivers are, ultimately, external contractors. Promising both drivers they can win a world championship is unrealistic. Respect and status within a team must be earned through performance on the track.”

And that’s the case with the Italian driver, according to Horner: “Look at Kimi Antonelli right now. He’s earning that spot on that team thanks to his performance on the track, and if it came down to a close battle between him and a rival from another team, his team would have to take a stand and make decisions regarding team orders—otherwise, it would risk losing the championship.”

“What I’ve learned as a team principal is that as a leader, you have to stay true to your principles. You can’t please everyone all the time; it’s about doing what’s best for the team and supporting the driver who can win.”