Shaquille O’Neal Turned Down Christian Horner’s Red Bull Offer in 2023

The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix was perhaps the most glamorous Formula 1 weekend in the history of the sport. With celebrities like Brad Pitt, Rihanna, and J. Balvin making their way to the Las Vegas Strip, it was hard to miss the excitement of the event. However, there was one man who stole the spotlight all to himself. Shaquille O’Neal, the iconic basketball star known for his towering personality both on and off the court, made his presence felt in the Sin City. In the new season of ‘Drive To Survive,’ we witness a glimmer of conversation between Shaq and the Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who offered the NBA star a shot at driving one of the Red Bulls, only to be turned down by the Hall of Famer.

Despite his busy schedule filled with various commitments ranging from his business ventures and television appearances, Shaq managed to make time to attend the event, showcasing his love for social gatherings and his fascination with Formula 1. One of the highlights of the weekend was a special event at Club SI on Saturday night, hosted by Shaq and soccer legend, David Beckham, where the attendees got a chance to mingle with their sports icons and hear engaging stories about their careers.

Christian Horner offered Shaquille O’Neal to drive the all-conquering RB19

With his larger-than-life personality, Shaq delighted his millions of followers by sharing moments from the event on social media. As guests lined up for photos and autographs, Shaq soaked in the atmosphere, clearly enjoying the special night surrounded by fellow celebrities and fans.

Throughout the evening on Saturday, Shaq remained actively engaged, whether it was talking with the guests, expressing his admiration for the event, or showing his support for Formula 1 and his favorite driver, Lewis Hamilton. The race on Sunday itself was as electrifying as the stat-studded atmosphere in Vegas. Unsurprisingly, Max Verstappen turned out to be the winner despite not being the polesitter himself (but when has that ever stopped him from winning anyway).

In episode 10 of Drive to Survive season 6, Shaq was seen having a conversation with Christian Horner after Verstappen won the race. Horner was excited to meet the NBA star as he asked, “Hey! How are you, man?“ Shaq simply admired the dominance of the Red Bull as he said, “I like your car.“ Horner, never one to miss out on an opportunity offered him a chance to take the RB19 for a spin, “Do you wanna drive?“ he asked. However, the basketball star bluntly denied the offer, “No. No!“

READ MORE: Las Vegas Hotel Owners Take U-Turn as Once “Upsetting” F1 Race Earns Them Millions

There was a bizarre yet hilarious encounter on Sunday between Shaq and Martin Brundle as he was conducting the pre-race grid walk.

Shaquille O’Neal gave a 3-word response to a struggling Martin Brundle

During the pre-race grid walk, Martin Brundle interviewed numerous celebrities. However, he faced a bit of a setback when the basketball legend seemed uninterested in engaging with him. Shaq, who was a guest of Red Bull on the grid, didn’t respond positively to Brundle’s attempt at an interview and headed away for photographs with the team.

Brundle had made special arrangements to accommodate O’Neal’s towering height of 7’1”, including using an extra-long microphone cable. Despite his efforts, Shaq didn’t seem interested in participating at all, leaving Brundle with a humorous remark about his “wasted“ long mic cable. However, on Shaq’s way back, Brundle made a last-ditch effort to try and ask him how he was doing. However, Shaq just walked past him, making a 3-word remark, “Lewis Hamilton Baby!“

Did you enjoy the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend? Do you think the glamor was a little over the top for an extreme sport like Formula 1 or was it just perfect?