Christian Horner has approached a Formula One team about a return to the sport – but with little success, according to reports.
Horner, married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, received an impressive £80 million severance package from Red Bull following his unexpected dismissal as team principal in July.
He’s been relishing his break, spotted at an Oasis concert at Wembley (where he faced some boos) and going on a road trip through the Scottish Highlands with Geri. However, it’s been disclosed that he yearns for Formula One and would be allowed to make a comeback starting in 2026.
At 51, he’s evaluating his future opportunities and opted for a deal less than the £110 million that could have been his, as it would have restricted him from working elsewhere in the sport for several years, as reported by Jonathan McEvoy from Daily Mail Sport.
Horner has been associated with teams like Haas, Alpine, Ferrari, and Aston Martin. Notably, his former Red Bull colleague, Adrian Newey, joined Aston Martin after their long 19-year collaboration.
Horner has already initiated discussions with one team, but these didn’t progress past the initial meeting, as confirmed by the team principal via AutoSport.
Christian Horner has approached a Formula One team about a return to the support, according to a member of the team
Horner received an £80million pay put after being sacked by Red Bull back in July
Haas’ Ayao Komatsu has revealed that Horner apparently sounded out the American side over a role just months after his Red Bull exit.
‘Yes, it’s true he reached out to us,’ Komatsu stated before the Singapore Grand Prix. ‘One of our team members had a preliminary discussion with him. That’s where it ended. It didn’t go any further. It’s concluded.’
He continued: ‘I’ve got nothing more to say. Like I said, you write whatever you want. I’m not fuelling that story.’
Horner has been strongly linked with a move to Aston Martin to link up with former right hand man Newey, but Drive to Survive cult favourite Guenther Steiner believes the pair’s acrimonious last year means Horner ending up at Aston Martin is highly unlikely.
Newey, regarded as the greatest Formula 1 designer in history, asked to leave Red Bull and was reportedly unsettled by the allegations against Horner.
Horner’s situation first came into doubt amid accusations that he acted coercively towards a female employee, claims that came to light in February 2024. He was twice cleared by KCs in internal hearings and he denied wrongdoing.
Steiner, 60, told Lottoland: ‘In the last year the problem between Adrian and Christian was one of the reasons why Adrian left Red Bull.
‘So, bringing Christian back, I don’t think that would work at the moment. I don’t think Aston Martin need Christian right now.
Haas’ Ayao Komatsu has claimed that Horner had talks about a move but that they went nowhere after one conversation
Guenther Steiner, meanwhile, has picked out one potential move that ‘won’t work’ for Horner
‘I think there was a lot of unhappiness internally, and something had to change. The change was Christian leaving, and they are just trying to go back to their glory days now.
‘With Red Bull, we could see it during the last one-and-a-half years where every race weekend there was drama, and that has gone away.
‘I think Aston Martin with the people they have in place are very well set to show what they can do under the new regulations.’
Aston F1 CEO Andy Cowell, though, has refused to rule out a reunion.
‘I think Christian has taken some time out at the moment,’ he said. ‘He’s probably enjoying time with friends and family. He loves the sport though. I wish him well with whatever he ends up doing in the future.
‘We have got a strong team. We’ve got a strong team with Adrian at the helm of the technical organisation. And we’re growing and building.
‘I think Christian’s record speaks for itself. He’s a great competitor. I guess it’s down to Christian to work out what he wants to do. I think we’ve got a strong set-up and we’re marching forward with that.’
