Christian Horner reveals why he knew Sebastian Vettel was going to a winner from the first moment he met him

Sebastian Vettel secured Red Bull Racing’s first F1 win at the 2009 Chinese GP in his first year with the team. Former Red Bull Team Principal recently came out and revealed why he knew Vettel was going to be a winner from the first moment.

Vettel signed with Toro Rosso for the 2008 season after making his debut for BMW Sauber. In his first year with Red Bull’s sister team, he secured his first win at the Italian GP. The very next year, the Milton Keynes-based outfit signed him alongside Mark Webber.

Amid Brawn GP’s domination during the 2009 season, Sebastian Vettel took the pole position at the Chinese GP, and went on to win the race with Webber finishing P2, over 10 seconds behind him. 

Christian Horner, speaking with Autosport in an interview, revealed that the very first moment he saw Sebastian Vettel, he knew the German was going to be a winner.

“I’II never forget Sebastian Vettel turning up in his BMW, you know, shortly after he passed his driving test, you know, and he looked something out of Stranger Things, you know, with his braces and whatever else. But you could just tell there was a conviction uh and an inner confidence there that you think, do you know what? If one of these juniors are going to make it, he’s the most likely. You could pretty much tell sitting across the table if somebody was going to make it or not,” said Christian Horner 

Sebastian Vettel went on to win four consecutive drivers and constructor titles with Red Bull from 2010 to 2013, before making a move to Ferrari for the 2015 season. 

Sebastian Vettel provides update on possible F1 future role

Sebastian Vettel retired from the sport at the end of the 2022 F1 season. Since then, the German has been focusing on his family and life away from the sport. Vettel has been linked to an F1 return in a management role, most recently joining Red Bull after Helmut Marko’s departure. 

Vettel recently came out and provided an update on the possible F1 future, as he said,

“I’m still very much involved in the sport. Obviously, I don’t have an active role at the moment, but very much following what’s going on and caring about the sport’s future. Especially [F1’s net zero goal in] 2030 or the new regulations, what might change.”

“I’m always open for what comes around the corner in terms of maybe a role in the future but I’m not actively pursuing it. I’m not speaking to teams or individuals and dropping my CV here and there but following from the outside with great joy and pleasure,” he added

Vettel most recently made an appearance at the Italian GP, where he drove Michael Schumacher’s championship-winning F2002.

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