How Can Red Bull’s Former Team Principal Make a Return to F1?
Christian Horner has shared his desire to return to Formula 1. The former Red Bull team principal has been away from the sport since he was fired after the 2025 British Grand Prix. Soured relationships, a sexual misconduct investigation, and a loss of ground effect era dominance all likely factored into Horner’s sacking. However, he is determined to add to the six Constructors’ Championships and eight World Drivers' Championships he led Red Bull to in his 20-plus years in charge. The 52-year-old stated at the European Motor Show in Dublin that he believes he has unfinished business in the sport. He went on to make it clear he will only return to a team that can win.
With the 2026 season only a month away, the team principal job market is static. Ferrari has not won a race since Carlos Sainz won the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix. Fred Vasseur's job security has been in question during this winless streak. The F1 rumor mill was connecting Horner to the Ferrari job towards the end of the 2025 season, but no one at Ferrari publicly entertained the possibility. There is a possibility that an opening at one of the two new projects presents an opportunity, but this is all speculation.
A fellow man of controversy, Flavio Briatore, has confirmed that Horner is currently negotiating to buy a 24% stake in Alpine. The team that finished 10th in the constructors' standings in 2025 is hardly a team that can win now. However, it is believed that partial ownership is a requirement for the former Red Bull team principal to return to the grid. His long-time rival and billionaire, Toto Wolff, may be serving as inspiration. The Mercedes man holds the titles of CEO, team principal, and partial owner. Internal politics will have less influence on job security if Horner has a similar role in a prospective F1 return. It can also prove lucrative, illustrated by Wolff’s $300 million in profits after selling 15% of his shares in November 2025. Despite their disastrous form, the Alpine F1 team is still valued at around $2.45 billion. Horner’s mention of unfinished business could refer to more than just title aspirations. The path back to Formula 1 is unclear for one of the sport's most successful team principals, but what is clear is that he aims to transcend that job title.
