Christian Horner’s F1 Comeback Faces Major Obstacle from Rival Teams
Sky Sports F1 commentator and former driver Martin Brundle has hinted that Christian Horner’s path back into Formula 1 could be more complicated than expected, with the current team bosses potentially standing in the way of his return.
Horner, who was dismissed by Red Bull in July after two decades of leadership, is now facing new hurdles as he explores his next move in the sport. The 51-year-old Englishman had overseen one of F1’s most successful modern eras, guiding Red Bull to six Constructors’ Championships and eight Drivers’ titles since 2005. However, his tenure ended following a difficult close to the 2024 season and a slow start to 2025. Red Bull have since thrived under new boss Laurent Mekies, who has reignited Max Verstappen’s charge for a record-equalling fifth consecutive world title.
Despite his exit, Horner has not closed the door on a return to the paddock. Reports suggest that he has successfully shortened his gardening leave, opening the possibility for him to rejoin F1 sooner rather than later. He has been linked with several teams, including Aston Martin, Alpine, and Haas. However, sources close to the situation claim that Horner is no longer interested in returning merely as a team principal. Instead, he wants a leadership position that includes partial ownership—similar to Mercedes’ Toto Wolff, who holds a one-third share in his team.
Speaking during Sky Sports F1’s coverage of the Singapore Grand Prix, Brundle emphasized that while Horner’s best opportunity might lie in forming or joining a new team, this route comes with its own significant challenges. “I think the current teams in Formula 1 will be pushing hard, as will other stakeholders, to say they don’t want a 12th team in Formula 1 at the moment while they’re all jockeying around trying to sort the 2026 regulations out,” Brundle explained.
He added that the reluctance of existing teams to expand the grid could represent “an extra hurdle” for Horner’s ambitions. “Formula 1 is his life — that’s where his skills and experience lie,” Brundle continued. “He made it absolutely clear to me that he will only come back if he’s got skin in the game, if he has a share in the team and is building something new, rather than simply being a manager like he was at Red Bull.”
Brundle compared Horner’s aspirations to the example set by Wolff, who successfully transitioned from team manager to part-owner, becoming one of the sport’s most influential figures. Horner is reportedly in search of a similar structure that would allow him greater control and long-term investment in a team’s future.
As for where Horner could land next, Alpine has been frequently mentioned as the frontrunner. The French outfit currently lacks an official team principal after Oliver Oakes’ departure earlier in the year. Although Flavio Briatore has been acting as executive advisor and Steve Nielsen recently joined as managing director, the principal position remains officially vacant.
Meanwhile, Haas has also emerged as a possible destination. Team boss Ayao Komatsu confirmed that preliminary talks with Horner had taken place but noted that discussions have not progressed further. Whether through an existing team or a new F1 project, Horner’s comeback journey is underway — but as Brundle noted, the opposition from rival teams could make his road back to the grid far from straightforward.
