FIVE SURPRISING THINGS WE LEARNED FROM HORNER'S BOOK

Christian Horner's memoir delivers five revelations from his rise to the top of F1. The standout: Niki Lauda showed up at Horner's house in late 2012 with a Mercedes team principal offer and "dazzling numbers" attached. Horner declined, citing loyalty to Red Bull. Toto Wolff got the job instead and claimed three straight hybrid-era titles.

Earlier, David Coulthard's 2006 Monaco podium quietly saved Horner's career—Red Bull had sent a letter declining his third-year option days before. The result reversed the call. Horner's only F1 laps as a driver came shaking down Lawrence Stroll's purchased Lotus at Hethel, years before Stroll co-owned Aston Martin. And in 2018, Daniel Ricciardo walked from a handshake deal worth $25 million per year to join Renault. Horner pins it on Verstappen's grip on the team.

The book confirms the paddock's suspicion: Ricciardo needed distance from Max, even if it cratered his trajectory.