Christian Horner has broken his silence on the rumours of his return to Formula 1, admitting he has “unfinished business” in the elite sport.
At the European Motor Show in Dublin, Horner candidly spoke on missing the team he helmed for two decades, Red Bull, and where he may be landing if he does make a shock return.
“I feel like I have unfinished business in Formula 1. It didn’t finish the way that I would have liked it to finish,” he said.
READ MORE: Munster drops retirement bomb as Bears’ pursuit crumbles
READ MORE: Khawaja defends Pakistan bowler amid ‘chucker’ debate
READ MORE: Brutal reality facing Aussie cult hero after ‘sloppy’ comeback
“But I am not going to come back for just anything. I am only going to come back for something that can win.
“I don’t want to go back in the paddock unless I have something to do. I miss the sport, I miss the people, I miss the team that I built.
Christian Horner admits that he misses the Formula 1 paddock. Â Getty
“I had 21 incredible years in Formula 1. I had a great run, won a lot of races, championships and worked with some amazing drivers, engineers and partners.”
The 52-year-old admitted that to return to the paddock, he would need an active role in a team at an executive level, not “just a hired hand”.
One team that might be able to hand him an offer is Alpine, with the team recently acknowledging that Horner is in talks to sign on.
The Brit is among a group eyeing a possible investment into the struggling team after sports-investment firm Otro Capital said it is exploring the option of selling its 24 per cent stake.
“I don’t need to go back. I could stop my career now,” Horner added.
“So I would only go back for the right opportunity to work with great people, and to work in an environment where people want to win, and they shared that desire. I would want to be a partner, rather than just a hired hand, but we will see how it plays out.
Christian Horner will not return to the sport unless it is in an active role with a team. Â Getty
“I am not in a rush. I don’t need to do anything.
“What has been fascinating is that I stepped out of Red Bull on July 8, and this is the first time I have actually spoken to anyone.
“[In the media] I have been going to every single Formula 1 team, which has ranged from the back of the grid, to the middle of the grid, and to the front of the grid.
“And there just seems to be an appetite as to: ‘What am I going to do? Where am I going to go?’.
“The reality is that until the spring I can’t do anything anyway. It is very flattering to keep being associated with all of these different teams.”
Formula 1 returns to the track on March 6-8 in Albert Park, Melbourne, but two official tests will be conducted with the new 2026 cars in Bahrain on February 11-13 and 18-20.