Christian Horner got behind the wheel of the Red Bull RB8 at Silverstone in preparation to stand-in for Sebastian Vettel at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson was in action in Red Bull’s current challenger, the RB20, on Thursday at Silverstone as part of a filming day, though it seems he was not alone in lapping a Red Bull challenger around Silverstone. Reuters report that Horner – who retired from racing in 1998 and has served as Red Bull team principal since they joined the F1 grid in 2005 – drove Vettel’s 2012 title-winning Red Bull RB8 at Silverstone as he prepares to take Vettel’s place in the team’s 20-year celebration at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
“It was fun,” said Horner at the event on that RB8 Silverstone outing. “The first time I’ve driven a Red Bull car and certainly the first time with a hand clutch and two pedals.” As for why Horner is standing in for Vettel at Goodwood, Horner explained that Vettel is on a family holiday and so cannot attend, so he took the plunge, as encouraged, by being the one to fill in for the four-time World Champion.
“Sebastian Vettel was due to drive one of the cars here but he’s on holiday with his family and wasn’t able to make Goodwood, so the guys suggested why don’t you drive it?,” Horner revealed. “I haven’t driven a single-seater since 1998 and a Formula 1 car since 1993. “So I thought there was the opportunity yesterday to drive a car with a hand clutch.
