With Christian Horner now formally leaving Crimson Bull, consideration has been switched to when and the place he can return to Components 1.
It was confirmed that Horner formally left the corporate on Monday, 10 weeks after the plunder of Crimson Bull 20 years on the helm of the group.
As a part of his exit, Horner negotiated a multi-million pound settlement that diminished the length of gardening go away he needed to serve.
It’s clear what his fundamental motivation is, as Horner reportedly accepts much less cash so he can return to the F1 world as quickly as doable.
However the place is the previous Crimson Bull group principal?
Alpine’s greatest wager?
Launched from his Crimson Bull contract, Horner is free to start negotiations with potential suitors over a Components One comeback.
Briton, 51, has been deeply related to the alpine mountains for a number of months.
Alpine entered a brand new period underneath the Flavio Briatore, and bought the Mercedes Energy Unit for F1’s Guidelines Reset in 2026, permitting the Anglo-French outfit to supply the chance on the proper time for Horner.
Alpine at the moment has no main gamers on the standard group. Govt Advisor Briartoll has successfully develop into the group’s boss since Oliver Oaks all of the sudden set off after the Miami Grand Prix, however Components 1 veteran Steve Nielsen was introduced in to handle the group’s day by day operations.
Maybe there may be nonetheless room for serving to somebody like Horner oversee the ship.
Horner and Briarthor are allies
Horner means that due to Alpine’s possession, Horner can mix his greatest good friend Briatore with the previous F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone. This represents a degree of energy that he’s not out there in Crimson Bull and is fascinating.
From a location standpoint, Alpine is smart to Horner, with the group’s Enstone headquarters only a quick drive from a rural Oxfordshire residence.
On the current Dutch Grand Prix, Briarthor spoke of hypothesis that linked Horner to his transfer in the direction of Alpine, saying, “In the mean time, he isn’t in Alpine’s photograph.”
Nonetheless, these feedback have been made earlier than Horner formally grew to become out there and the photographs have been modified.
Aston Martin feels unlikely
On paper, Aston Martin could possibly be one other Horner possibility.
CEO Andy Cowell took over the position of Mike Crack’s group principal, who transitioned to trackside chief aspect officer as a part of a senior administration place forward of the 2025 season.
There’s a danger that Aston Martin has many cooks within the kitchen, however there could also be a place the place Horner fills in with Aston Martin.
One other potential stumbling block might come within the type of an enormous cash signing to Adrian Newey, who left Crimson Bull to hitch a Silverstone-based outfit earlier this yr.
The controversy, together with allegations about Horner, is known to be one of many fundamental explanation why Newey wished to depart Crimson Bull within the first place.
Newey can also be mentioned to be unimpressed by Horner’s feedback that appeared to have influenced the group’s efficiency throughout Crimson Bull’s current F1 Glory heyday.
Such a situation results in a hard reunion for Horner, and the danger of alienating what Aston Martin is certain to keep away from.
Does Lawrence Stroll need to rent Horner?
The doorways closed with Ferrari and Cadillac
Horner didn’t refuse to rule out Ferrari participation earlier than being fired by Crimson Bull.
When requested by Crash.Web’s Lewis Larkam if he would tackle a serious position within the group at Ferrari, whether or not he would attraction to him at a press convention on the Spanish Grand Prix in Might, Horner replied:
“There may be at all times hypothesis about this enterprise, the individuals who come on the market, the individuals who go on the market, the folks on the group know precisely what the state of affairs is.
“My Italian is worse than Flavio’s English, so how does that work?”
That avenue seems to be closed for now, and Ferrari is giving Frederick Vasser a brand new “multi-year” contract to proceed from the top of this yr onwards.
The incoming Cadillac F1 group closed the opportunity of hiring Horner and closed one other doable door.
“We had no discussions with Christian Horner, we’ve got no plans to do this,” CEO Dan Touris insisted in August. “I wish to formally shut that rumor.”
No matter Horner’s subsequent transfer, his future will definitely entice the eye of the Components One paddock within the coming months.
