Christian horner’s Next Move: A New Team or a Takeover?
Christian Horner‘s recent $100million settlement with Red Bull has triggered a ton of speculation about where and when a potential return to Formula 1 will happen.
He has been linked with several current squads, but another possibility is also understood to be under consideration – and that is of him perhaps going it alone and setting up a 12th team.
All options appear to be on the table right now,with a specific agreement in his Red Bull severance package that allows him to return to F1 in the first half of next year making it clear he wants a grand prix racing comeback quickly. Or else, he would not have agreed to a reduced payout from Red Bull in exchange for being allowed to embark on an early adventure with one of the energy drinks firm’s rivals.
There is no shortage of interest from other F1 teams, so Horner now just needs to settle in his own head what he wants to do – and in particular whether he joins someone else or does his own thing.
The control element
It is widely understood that Horner is only interested in a role that gives him full control over a squad, so he does not want to accept simply being a team principal and reporting into bosses above him.
Horner controlled all aspects of the Red Bull F1 operation: up until his dismissal he was in charge of not just the Red Bull Racing team but the engine division,marketing and the advanced engineering arm.
He believed that level of control was key in Red Bull becoming a multiple title-winning machine,and his stance on that being the way to run an F1 team has not changed.
This is why he previously turned down offers to join Ferrari and is not especially eager to wait to see if an opportunity opens up there over the next 12 months if the team fails to nail the 2026 rules and decides to overhaul its management.
One other aspect in F1 that would especially interest Horner, that he did not have at Red Bull, is equity: not just control over a team, but a stake in its ownership structure too.
There has been plenty of talk in recent weeks that Horner has investors that are ready to back any project he gets involved in and that potentially opens the door to a team buy-in.
The most obvious options that have emerged so far for horner that would tick all the boxes are with Alpine and Aston Martin, two teams that are resolute to get to the front of the grid and where he could get the control he seeks.
Horner is friends with Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore and it is indeed entirely logical that some form of equity deal could be pulled together for him to buy into the squad. That would put him in a senior role and give him the freedom that would be needed to help turnaround the Enstone-based operation.
Aston martin also has big ambitions and, while Andy Cowell is currently CEO and team principal, it is not impossible that team owner Lawrence stroll could position things to slot Horner into a role that would be attractive. Getting some equity in the team could also be a part of that; there is already a precedent here, as it was revealed when design genius Adrian Newey was signed that his package included a stake.
As Newey said about that element of his deal: “To have the chance to be a shareholder and a partner is something that has never really been offered to me before.”
There have been recent suggestions that an Aston Martin alliance would not work with Newey there, as it is known that friction in thier relationship l
Christian Horner Considering New F1 Team Venture
Recent reports suggest that recently departed red Bull Racing Team Principal, christian Horner, is exploring the possibility of launching a new Formula 1 team.Despite facing controversy and leaving his former role, Horner appears determined to remain involved in the sport and believes he has “unfinished business” in F1.
The potential venture is fueled by existing investor interest, with backers reportedly ready to support a team buy-in. Formula 1’s regulations currently allow for up to 12 teams on the grid, leaving one slot theoretically open with Cadillac set to join as the 11th team in 2026.
While establishing a new team would be a important undertaking, requiring investment in the hundreds of millions of dollars and likely not resulting in track presence before 2028, it could represent a financially sound strategy.Current F1 team valuations exceed $1 billion, making the cost of building a team from scratch – estimated around half that amount – potentially good value.
Horner’s proven commercial acumen, demonstrated by his success in attracting major corporate sponsorships for Red Bull Racing, suggests he possesses the necessary network to secure the required financial backing.Sources indicate preliminary discussions with potential partners have already begun.
Though, securing an entry won’t be solely dependent on financial resources. The failed initial bid by the Andretti team, despite having sufficient funding and FIA technical approval, highlights the challenges. Formula One Management (FOM) rejected Andretti’s request, citing a lack of “added value” to the sport. Approval was only granted when the project evolved into a fully-backed Cadillac operation.
Therefore, Horner would need to present a compelling proposal that gains the support of rival teams, the FIA, and FOM. This could involve securing a major manufacturer partnership, a groundbreaking sponsorship deal, or another element that stakeholders deem invaluable to Formula 1.
As of now, Horner remains undecided, but his commitment to continuing his involvement in F1 is clear.
Sources:
* https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/horner-f1-team-new-venture-investors/10534991/
* https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/horner-exploring-f1-team-launch-with-investor-backing/10534989/