What are ex-Red Bull boss Christian Horner’s F1 return options?

With Christian Horner’s departure from Crimson Bull now official, consideration has switched to when and the place he may return to F1.

10 weeks after his Crimson Bull sacking following 20 years on the helm of the workforce, it was confirmed that Horner had formally left the corporate on Monday.

As a part of his exit, Horner negotiated a multi-million pound settlement that has shortened the interval of gardening depart he should serve, that means he’s free to return to a task inside F1 earlier than the summer season of 2026.

With Horner reportedly accepting much less cash in order that he can return to the world of F1 as quickly as doable, it’s clear what his important motivation is.

However the place may the previous Crimson Bull workforce principal find yourself?

Alpine the perfect wager?

Launched from his Crimson Bull contract, Horner is now free to start negotiating with potential suitors over an F1 comeback.

The 51-year-old Briton has been closely linked with Alpine for a number of months.

With Alpine coming into a brand new period beneath Flavio Briatore, and taking over Mercedes energy models for F1’s guidelines reset in 2026, the Anglo French outfit may present Horner with a chance on the proper time.

Alpine are presently missing a standard workforce principal determine. Government advisor Briatore has successfully develop into de facto workforce boss since Oliver Oakes’ sudden departure after the Miami Grand Prix, whereas F1 veteran Steve Nielsen has been delivered to handle the workforce’s day-to-day operations.

Maybe there may be nonetheless room for a determine like Horner to assist direct the ship.

Rumours have prompt that Horner may mix forces with shut buddy Briatore and former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone for an possession stake in Alpine. This is able to symbolize a degree of energy that was unavailable to him at Crimson Bull, and should attraction. 

From a location perspective, Alpine would make sense for Horner, with the workforce’s Enstone headquarters a brief drive from his nation residence in Oxfordshire.

Talking on the latest Dutch Grand Prix, Briatore talked down hypothesis linking Horner with a transfer to Alpine, stating that “for the second, he’s not within the image of Alpine”.

However these feedback have been made earlier than Horner was formally out there and the image has now modified.

Aston Martin feels unlikely

On paper, Aston Martin might be another choice for Horner.

CEO Andy Cowell took over the position of workforce principal from Mike Krack, who transitioned to chief trackside officer, as a part of a senior administration reshuffle forward of the 2025 season.

There could also be a place for Horner to fill at Aston Martin, be it as a extra pure workforce principal match than Cowell, or a extra senior capability, although there’s a threat of Aston Martin having too many cooks within the kitchen.

One other potential stumbling block may come within the type of big-money signing Adrian Newey, who left Crimson Bull to affix the Silverstone-based outfit earlier this 12 months.

The controversy involving the allegations about Horner is known to have been one of many important causes Newey needed to depart Crimson Bull within the first place. 

Newey can be stated to have been unimpressed with feedback made by Horner that appeared to downplay his influence on the workforce’s efficiency through the top of Crimson Bull’s latest F1 glory.

Such a situation may make for a clumsy reunion for Horner and threat alienating Newey, one thing Aston Martin would absolutely search to keep away from.

Doorways closed at Ferrari and Cadillac

Horner didn’t refuse to rule out becoming a member of Ferrari earlier than he was fired by Crimson Bull.

Requested by Crash.internet’s Lewis Larkam whether or not taking over the workforce principal position at Ferrari would ever attraction to him throughout a press convention on the Spanish Grand Prix in Could, Horner responded: “My dedication 100 per cent is with Crimson Bull. It all the time has been and positively will likely be for the long run.

“There’s a bunch of hypothesis all the time on this enterprise, individuals coming there, individuals going there. Individuals within the workforce know precisely what the state of affairs is.

“My Italian is worse than Flavio’s English so how on Earth would that work?”

That avenue seems closed for now, with Ferrari handing Frederic Vasseur a brand new “multi-year” contract to proceed within the place past the top of this 12 months.

The incoming Cadillac F1 workforce have additionally shut down the opportunity of hiring Horner, closing one other doable door. 

“There have been no talks with Christian Horner. No plans to do this,” CEO Dan Towriss insisted in August. “I’d wish to formally shut down that hearsay.”

No matter Horner’s subsequent transfer is, his future will definitely seize the eye of the F1 paddock within the coming months.