Mr Horner, who divides his time between Highgate and his country home in Oxfordshire, has opened up about his public image following his departure from Red Bull.

The 52-year-old spent more than two decades at the helm of the Formula 1 team before being relieved of his duties in 2025.

Speaking to The Telegraph ahead of the publication of his autobiography Drive, Mr Horner discussed the way he was portrayed in Netflix's Formula 1 series Drive to Survive.

Mr Horner acknowledged in his book that he was happy to be portrayed as “Drive to Survive’s equivalent of Darth Vader”, but has now insisted the character viewers saw does not represent him in everyday life.

He said: “Geri always likened Drive to Survive to being like the Kardashians on wheels.

“You know, it’s reality TV basically. They’re making a show. That’s very different to the person that I am on a day-to-day basis.

“Now, you might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but I let go a long time ago of the fear of not being liked. So long as I’m comfortable in my own skin and my family loves me, that’s enough.”

Mr Horner is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell-Horner, with the couple and their family dividing their time between their properties in London and Oxfordshire.

The former team principal has also made clear that he is looking for a route back into Formula 1, but wants a role in which he can operate at a strategic level rather than simply returning to the pit wall.

Mr Horner's autobiography Drive is due to be published on October 22.