Christian Horner thought Daniel Ricciardo 'nearly destroyed his career' when the Australian left Red Bull back in 2019, it has been claimed.
Horner has been working as team principal ever since his appointment back in 2005.
He oversaw the successful Sebastian Vettel era, with the German winning four F1 crowns on the trot between 2010 and 2013.
And Horner has been instrumental to Max Verstappen's success, with the Dutchman winning the past three drivers' championships - ending Lewis Hamilton's dominance of the sport in the process.
Christian Horner is preparing for the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend as Red Bull seek a return to winning ways
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The 50-year-old, according to ESPN, has always been a 'big fan' of Ricciardo.
He previously joked that he nearly crashed his car when Ricciardo phoned to say he'd be leaving Red Bull for Renault, with the Australian departing in 2019.
And the report also says Ricciardo was held in such high regard that Horner privately maintained he 'nearly destroyed his career' by opting to leave.
The 34-year-old was highly-rated by Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who died at the age of 78 back in 2022.
And Horner has always felt Ricciardo and Verstappen could have remained team-mates to this very day had the former Red Bull star not walked away.
It's also claimed Horner was surprised by Ricciardo's struggles at McLaren.
He thinks Red Bull can coax the best from the 34-year-old amid talk Sergio Perez could be cut loose.
However, Horner 'will not blindly stick to his guns' if there's not a 'clear turnaround' soon.
Intriguingly, there has also been talk of Carlos Sainz potentially returning to Red Bull.
The Ferrari star recently won the Australian Grand Prix, with that achievement following positive performances in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Sainz has joked he's unemployed, with Lewis Hamilton poised to replace him in Maranello next year.
And Horner, speaking after the Australian GP, refused to rule out a stunning return for the Spaniard.
“Based on a performance like that, you couldn’t rule any possibility out," he said.
“You’ve had a very fast unemployed driver win today.”
Ricciardo, meanwhile, could only finish 12th in his homeland last time out.
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Christian Horner felt Daniel Ricciardo 'nearly destroyed his career' when he left Red Bull back in 2019
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But the 34-year-old isn't listening to rumours that he could lose his seat at his Visa Cash App RB team.
“In terms of the noise, people tell me like in the media, they’re like, ‘Oh, so-and-so said’ – it’s the first I’ve heard,” he said.
“It’s obviously no disrespect to [the media], but I know that I’m on this little process or journey at the moment and I just need to focus on myself.
“If I let any of the noise in, it’s going to kind of distract me from the path I’m on. I haven’t let any of that negative stuff creep in.”
Verstappen will be the strong favourite to win the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
Daniel Ricciardo has endured a difficult start to the new F1 season
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The 26-year-old won at Suzuka back in 2022.
And he then followed up that victory by triumphing last year as well.