Mercedes F1 call on Christian Horner for …. read more
Christian Horner and Toto Wolff have shared one of Formula 1’s most iconic and intense rivalries over the past decade. Their fiery exchanges, particularly during the nail-biting 2021 title fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, defined an era of F1 drama. Whether it was in press conferences or on Netflix’s Drive to Survive, the duo never missed an opportunity to take jabs at one another — with Wolff once famously comparing Horner to a “yapping terrier.”
However, a twist in F1’s future could potentially bring the two fierce competitors into the same working circle — and not as rivals this time, but possibly as partners.
Following Horner’s shock dismissal from his role as Red Bull’s team principal, many believed Wolff would see this as a personal victory. For years, Wolff and Horner traded both strategic blows on the track and verbal barbs off it. But Horner’s removal doesn’t necessarily signal the end of his presence in Formula 1 — nor does it guarantee that Wolff has ‘won’ their feud.
In fact, by 2026, circumstances may force them into an unlikely professional connection.
One team that could offer Horner a new opportunity is Alpine. The team — formerly known as Renault — has been navigating internal instability, especially after the sudden resignation of team principal Oliver Oakes in May. Since then, Flavio Briatore, a veteran figure in F1 and longtime friend of Horner, has taken a more hands-on role at Alpine.
Given Horner’s two-decade run of success at Red Bull, including multiple Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships, he would bring a wealth of experience and credibility to any team. Briatore, looking to stabilize Alpine and reshape its competitive outlook, might view Horner as the ideal figure to lead the team forward.
Briatore and Horner share a well-documented friendship — Horner even named his dog “Flavio” in his honour — which could make negotiations easier should Alpine choose to pursue him after his gardening leave ends in January 2026.
But a major wrinkle in this potential plan is Alpine’s recent engine deal. Starting from 2026, Alpine will become a customer team of Mercedes, using their power units and gearboxes in a deal set to run until at least 2030. That arrangement means any new team principal — including Horner — would need to work directly with Mercedes’ top motorsport boss: Toto Wolff.
This would create an awkward dynamic between two long-time adversaries. Wolff, who also holds broader responsibilities beyond the Mercedes F1 team, would have some level of oversight or involvement in Alpine’s engine and gearbox supply. If Horner were to lead Alpine, he would have to maintain a civil, working relationship with the very man who pursued Verstappen, contributed to the pressures around his Red Bull exit, and battled him so fiercely for years.
To make things even more intense, if Wolff does succeed in bringing Verstappen to Mercedes, the rivalry could take on new dimensions — with Horner managing a Mercedes-powered team while Wolff oversees Verstappen’s new chapter.
Yet, despite the baggage, Horner’s leadership could be the shake-up Alpine desperately needs. Since their rebrand, the team has struggled to evolve into a front-running force. Key figures like Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri have walked away, citing frustrations with the team’s lack of progress and leadership inconsistency.
Horner could be the stabilising force Alpine have long been missing. His history of building and sustaining a championship-winning team could help guide Alpine out of the midfield and back into serious contention.
Whether the F1 world is ready for a working alliance — however indirect — between Christian Horner and Toto Wolff is another question entirely. But as 2026 approaches, the sport may be on the brink of one of its most unexpected partnerships yet.
