Chaos on the F1 Grid

As Eleanore took a seat behind her desk, she told herself to remain confident and calm, this is just another Team Principal – all be it a fairly rude and intimidating one, but she has a job to do. Before she could try to control the meeting Horner began speaking, in one of the most patronising tones she had ever been subjected to.

Horner: Listen young lady, I came here to speak with you about how this little arrangement is going to work, and I was not pleased to find one of my drivers in here.

Eleanore: Firstly Mr Horner, my name is Eleanore, not 'young lady', I do not work for you, nor should anyone who does be treated in the same patronising manner you have just treated me. Secondly, Max and Lando came to speak to me, I did not summon them here. Thirdly, when you say 'arrangement' I presume you mean my iron clad contract with Formula One, over which you have zero say – the one that brings me here to ensure that the image of F1 is not damaged or tarnished by inappropriate or avoidable behaviour?

Horner was not used to someone speaking back to him, especially annoying, was that the entire time she remained calm with a gentle smile on her face – infuriating the man even more.

Horner: I am the Team Principal of Redbull, and frankly, I will speak to you however I please. Now, back to why I am here. You are not to meet with any of my team without me being present.

Eleanore: no.

The simplicity of her response took Horner by surprise and it took him a moment to gather his wits. Had she seriously just said 'no'. Eleanore knew he was not making a request, but she also knew he had no authority over this situation and she was not going to let him see her sweat. This was not her first rodeo with toxic men. She knew she needed to remain calm and polite – sweetness and light – of course if she were a man she could slam her fists on the table and shout at him and no one would question her ability to do her job... but being a woman, she doesn't have that luxury. So, in the face of this man trying to belittle and control her, she goes with the age-old charm and disarm.

Horner: Excuse me?

Eleanore: I said no. I am sorry; did I stutter? I used to have a stutter when I was a child, terribly annoying thing too.

Horner: I think you misunderstood me –

Eleanore: No, I understood you perfectly, you want to dictate the conditions under which I can perform my job, and I am saying no. I understand that you are in charge of one of the 10 teams in Formula One, I know that you manage a huge number of staff and have an incredibly difficult job to do. I respect that, I do. I admire the work you have done at Redbull. But I am not your enemy here Mr Horner, and the sooner you come to the realisation that I am here to help and not hurt, the easier this will all be. I have a great love for this sport, and I care about the drivers and the teams. I am going to work my ass off to ensure that everyone sees how incredible this sport is. I will protect the drivers and the teams from negative media as much as I possibly can, but in order to do that, the drivers have to trust me, and they won't be able to do that if you are in the room whenever I speak with them. So, respectfully, No.

Eleanore watched as Horner was trying to comprehend what just happened. He knew she had complimented him in there, but he was also fairly certain she refused his request again. She sat silently waiting for him to decide whether he was angry, annoyed, indifferent, or impressed. As it turns out, angry was what he went for, she could have bet on that.

Horner: listen girly, I have a job to do, you do not speak to my drivers without me present.

Eleanore: well, we are at an impasse then Mr Horner, because my job description and responsibilities clearly dictate that I can. I will, of course, keep you updated of any issues that can impact on your team and their reputation, I will be working closely with your comms team throughout the year. You, however, will not be present unless the driver has asked me for you to be, and I deem it to be necessary. You have to let me do my job.