From the Hollywood star to the ex-driver at the centre of a toxic divorce after coming out as gay: As Formula One prepares to race without Christian Horner - where are the stars who raced before former Red Bull boss' first appearance 20 years ago?

Christian Horner's sacking three days after the British Grand Prix sent shockwaves through the Formula One paddock, after a period mired in controversy for the departing Red Bull team boss and CEO.

The 51-year-old was embroiled in a sexual misconduct scandal early last year, and the dominoes continued to fall around him and Red Bull, with several high-profile personnel departures and persistent rumours about whether they can retain star driver Max Verstappen.

Horner has been a titular figure in the Formula One world for over two decades, taking the Milton Keynes-based team from strength to strength since becoming the sport's youngest ever team principal at just 31-years-old in 2005.

He led Red Bull to eight Driver's Championships - four a-piece for Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen - and six Constructor's Championships in his 20 years at the helm, cementing them as a frontrunning staple and grabbing countless wins and podiums even when the car wasn't in Championship nick.

A lot has happened since Horner took over the reins at Red Bull – Apple released the iPhone, England won the Ashes Down Under and Lewis Hamilton has taken 105 chequered flags – and the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix marked the last occasion that the Toto Wolff-branded 'yapping little terrier' wasn't seen on the grid.

So who were the 20 drivers that day and where are they now?

Fernando Alonso

Where better to start than fine wine Fernando?

The veteran Spaniard continues to defy the ravages of time by still featuring on the F1 grid in 2025 at the age of 43 – with a record-breaking 413 race starts to boot.

He racked up four podiums in the 2004 season, unable to challenge the peerless Ferraris, before going on to win back-to-back titles in the following two seasons.

Alonso's F1 career has been one of scintillating highs and frustrating lows, characterised by poor career choices that have often forced him to drag mediocre machinery to places it doesn't belong.

His decision to join Aston Martin in 2023 appeared to put paid to that streak of bad luck, as he was right back at the sharp end of the grid, scoring eight podiums and finishing fourth in his first season with the team.

That year proved to be something of a flash in the pan, with the Silverstone team slinking back into midfield purgatory for the next two years, but with the hotly-anticipated arrival of legendary designer Adrian Newey earlier this year ahead of the 2026 regulation changes, Alonso will surely be salivating at the prospect of adding more honours to his already illustrious career.

Ralf Schumacher

Schumacher broke headlines last year when he came out as gay, becoming only the fourth F1 driver in history to do so.

An Instagram post of him and his partner, Etienne, standing arm-in-arm was accompanied by the caption: 'The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything.'

His coming out led to a very public spat with his ex-wife, Cora Schumacher, who said she had 'wasted her best years' with the former F1 star.

The German enjoyed a moderately successful career in the upper echelon of motorsport, winning six times in his 11-year stint, but ultimately never managing to step out of the titanic shadow of his older brother, Michael.

The former Williams driver has remained an outspoken voice in F1 since retiring in 2007, branding Lewis Hamilton's activism 'dangerous' in 2021 – a comment that was promptly dug up and did the rounds after last year's surprise announcement.

He currently serves as an expert pundit and co-commentator for Sky Sports Germany.

Michael Schumacher

The world is keenly aware of the tragedy that befell Ralf's brother in 2013.

Michael Schumacher is a name that transcends the motorsport bubble; considered the greatest driver to ever grace the grid by many, the seven-time world champion broke numerous F1 records and was named Laureus Sportsman of the Year in 2002 and 2004.

A Netflix documentary following his career was released in 2021, but the Schumacher family have remained tight-lipped about his condition in the 12 years since his skiing accident, preferring to maintain their privacy in an age where the eye of social media sees everything.

The Keep Fighting Foundation was founded by his family in 2016, and continues to carry out charitable work in honour of the F1 great.

Juan Pablo Montoya

The Colombian driver won that final Brazilian GP B.H., one his seven race victories in the sport.

Devastatingly fast on his day, Montoya was as spicy off-track as he was on it, leading to an acrimonious end to his F1 career when Ron Dennis sacked him mid-season in 2006.

Montoya is still actively involved in motorsport, supporting his son Sebastian Montoya – currently racing in F2 – as he launches a bid to become the 15th driver to follow his father onto the Formula One grid.

Mark Webber

Still a feature of the paddock in the form of Oscar Piastri's manager, the Australian has done everything in his power to prevent his compatriot client from becoming a support act to Lando Norris, not that he has needed to in 2025.

Webber was a nine-time F1 race winner with Red Bull, but was never able to usurp his younger team-mate Vettel in his time at Milton Keynes, maybe explaining his desire to protect Piastri's status at McLaren.

Kimi Raikkonen

What is there to say about the man who says so little? Quite a lot, actually.

The Iceman could stake a claim as one of the fastest drivers to ever compete in Formula One.

His sole Driver's Championship title came with Ferrari in 2007, but were it not for the poor reliability of his McLaren, he would have almost won another two years prior.

Raikkonen left the sport in 2021 after 19 seasons with Sauber, McLaren, Ferrari, Lotus and Alfa Romeo, amassing 21 wins and 103 podiums in 349 race starts.

The Flying Finn has taken a step back from the limelight since leaving the sport, enjoying retirement and spending time with his wife and three children.

David Coulthard

DC was comprehensively beaten by a prodigal Kimi in 2004, in what would be his final year at McLaren.

Despite losing the team-mate battle that year, the Scot scooped up plenty of accolades himself throughout his 15 year F1 career, with 13 wins, 62 podiums, and a career best 2nd in the 2001 World Championship.

Coulthard will know more about the Horner situation than most; he is an ambassador for Red Bull and raced for Horner during the inaugural three seasons of the Red Bull F1 team, despite being two years his senior.

When he's not fulfilling his Red Bull duties, he can be found on commentary or punditry for Channel 4's Formula 1 coverage.

Jenson Button

Button enjoyed his best season to date in 2004, finishing third overall in a BAR Honda unexpectedly capable of achieving multiple podiums and pole positions.

The Somerset man went on to write himself into the history books in 2009 after securing his first and only world title with a Brawn team rescued from the abyss by its namesake - legendary team principal Ross Brawn – over the previous winter break.

Button ultimately hung up his F1 helmet in 2016, making a cameo at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix in place of his close friend Alonso, before taking a Super GT title in 2018 and becoming a four-time 24 Hours of Le Mans racer.

He currently divides his time between Sky Sports punditry, the World Endurance Championship and serving as a senior advisor for the Williams F1 team.

Rubens Barrichello

Button's team-mate for that iconic 2009 Brawn season, Barichello also served as M. Schumacher's deputy during his Ferrari heyday.

The Brazilian has the fourth most F1 race starts - behind only Alonso, Hamilton and Raikkonen - and achieved 20 wins and 55 podiums.

He is currently plying his trade in the Brazilian Stock Car Championship at the age of 53, and works as a non-executive director for technology company, SOFTSWISS, helping them grow their Latin American market.

Timo Glock

Martin Brundle's legendary cry of 'Is that Glock?' as the German ran wide on the final corner of the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix to hand Lewis Hamilton his maiden title will forever be etched into the F1 history books.

Glock is currently racing in DTM for Dorr Motorsport at 43-years-old.

Felipe Massa

Massa was the man who cruelly lost the championship to Hamilton that year, but can still boast 11 race wins and 41 podiums in his 15 years as an F1 star.

The Brazilian is currently involved in legal proceedings with Formula One Management, the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone, fighting to overturn the result of the 2008 World Championship, pointing to the infamous 'Crashgate' scandal at that year's Singapore Grand Prix – where he was out of the points anyway.

Jacques Villeneuve

The 1997 World Champion was driving for Renault at the 2004 Brazilian GP, subbing in for the dismissed Jarno Trulli.

Villeneuve has become known for his controversial opinions post-retirement – he recently claimed nobody would care if Verstappen left F1 – and currently works as an F1 analyst for Canal+ and commentator for Sky Italia.

Nick Heidfeld

Heideld holds the unwanted record of being the driver with the most podiums to never achieve a race victory in Formula One.

The German is currently developing a new junior electric racing series called Formula G, co-founded with former Mahindra Formula E boss Dilbagh Gill.

Giancarlo Fisichella

'Fisi' was in the latter half of a career that included three race wins and 19 podiums in 2004.

The Italian is related to the Sicilian nobility and cut his teeth in the acting biz with a cameo appearance in the 2019 film The Art of Racing in the Rain.

A man of many talents, he currently serves as a Ferrari ambassador, GT racer and occasional DJ.

Jarno Trulli

Another Italian on the grid that year was Jarno Trulli, driving for Toyota at the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix after being dropped by Renault.

He secured his only pole position and race win in Monaco earlier that year, and produces wine at his family vineyard in Abruzzo.

Takuma Sato

Sato achieved his career-best championship position of 8th in 2004, scoring his only podium at the United States Grand Prix - the first for a Japanese driver since 1990.

He finished in 9th at the Indy 500 in May at the age of 48, making him the second oldest competitor.

Christian Klien

The Austrian was in the first of his four middling years in F1 in 2004, crashing in that year's Monaco Grand Prix and losing a 1.4 carat diamond attached to the nose of his Jaguar in the process.

Klien most recently competed in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup for JP Motorsport.

Gianmaria Bruni

Bruni competed in his sole F1 season in 2004, racing for perennial backmarkers Minardi.

He currently races for JDC-Miller Motorsports in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Zsolt Baumgartner

Baumgartner remains the only Hungarian driver in F1 history and was Bruni's Minardi teammate that season.

He effectively retired from competitive motorsport after 2004, and little has been reported of his life after the five red lights.