Christian Horner visited the United States of America this week, sharing images from New York on his social media.<\/p>\n
The former Red Bull boss is weighing up his options for an F1 return, once he has served a period of gardening leave following his split with the energy drinks giant earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Christian Horner visits New York \u2013\u00a0 continuing investment drive?<\/p>\n
Eagle-eyed F1 fans were surprised to spot Horner out and about in New York earlier this week, with images appearing on social media of the former Red Bull man posing for pictures on the streets of the city as passers-by realised who was in their midst.<\/p>\n
Since his split with his former team in late summer, Horner has been spotted on holiday in Croatia and Scotland with his family and wife, former Spice Girl Geri Horner, and the British executive has headed Stateside for his latest trip as he continues to maintain a low public profile.<\/p>\n
The reason for Horner\u2019s visit to New York is unclear.\u00a0As reported by PlanetF1.com recently<\/a>, Horner is believed to have already secured significant financial backing for his next venture; as the team principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing, his stewardship of eight Drivers\u2019 Championships and six Constructors\u2019 Championships over two decades has meant potential investors aren\u2019t shy about coming forward to offer support.<\/p>\n Following his departure from his operational roles at Red Bull<\/a>, his negotiated exit from the company saw him pocket a sum of circa $100 million. The conditions of this split are believed to allow Horner to return to competitive action by the middle of the F1 2026 season.<\/p>\n The big question at this point is what that future could look like. The prospect of returning to the grid as \u2018merely\u2019 a team principal is not thought to be his first priority, with sources indicating that Horner\u2019s focus is more on that of a CEO and the establishment of a team\u2019s strategic direction, a step above his former role.<\/p>\n With significant financial backing, Horner is understood to be seeking equity in an F1 team, whether that be a minority or majority shareholding, or even the acquisition of a team in its entirety.<\/p>\n His roster of backers is already believed to be sufficient for the outright purchase of any current team, even with new, eye-watering team valuations emerging as F1\u2019s popularity booms.<\/p>\n Recently, McLaren\u2019s sale of shares from MSP Capital Partners to Mumtalakat and CYVN Holdings valued the team at $5 billion, while, only this week, Toto Wolff\u2019s purported sale of a small slice of his Motorsports Investment Ltd. holding company would value Mercedes Grand Prix at around $6 billion.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not yet clear what Horner\u2019s path could be.<\/p>\n The most likely option for Horner is to create and lead a brand-new team, given his experience of building an F1 team up from his overhaul of Jaguar when he took over at Red Bull in 2005.<\/p>\n Horner is understood to have already had meetings with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali regarding this possibility, while he also met with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem for a social dinner, together with McLaren CEO Zak Brown, recently.<\/p>\n More on Christian Horner<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0Sebastian Vettel warns Red Bull of future consequences from Christian Horner sacking<\/a> Ben Sulayem has indicated his interest in opening an Expressions of Interest (EOI) phase for potential new teams, particularly if there is backing from a Chinese OEM (such as BYD).<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we opened the Expression of Interest [in 2023], what was the outcome based on?\u201d the FIA president told select media, including PlanetF1.com, earlier this summer.<\/p>\n \u201cDue process, competency framework, and without looking at which company it was, as long as it fulfilled the regulations and the application of the FIA.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have an 11th team. I believe we should look into the performance of the 11th team, and then, if there is a Chinese [bid], and I will speak on behalf of them now in front of you, they [FOM] will agree to that, because it is about sustaining the business.\u201d<\/p>\n Of the existing teams,\u00a0Alpine is set for a big drop in earned prize money this winter, due to it occupying 10th and last in the Constructors\u2019 Championship, and, just this week, reduced its issued share capital in its holding company from \u00a341 million to \u00a313.1 million. This is usually only done to help a company\u2019s financial position, perhaps if a company has become overcapitalised, or if a company has encountered losses.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also the question mark of when the external investors in Alpine, Otro Capital, Redbird Capital, and Maximum Effort Investments (all, coincidentally, headquartered in New York City), may seek to cash in on their investment and withdraw their 24 percent shareholding in the squad.<\/p>\n That slice of the organisation cost the group $218 million in 2023, valuing the team at around $900 million at the time. The figure has since risen an estimated $3 billion, meaning a sale now would see a roughly $500 million profit, a return on investment of around 130 per cent.<\/p>\n Horner\u2019s relationship with Aston Martin\u2019s managing technical partner, Adrian Newey, is, contrary to rumour, understood to have only strengthened this year, with the two men frequently socialising, particularly following Horner\u2019s split with Red Bull.<\/p>\n However, Aston Martin becoming a potential new home for Horner doesn\u2019t appear likely, following CEO Andy Cowell\u2019s insistence in September that, \u201cI can clearly say there are no plans for involvement of Christian, either in an operational or investment role in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n While there was a confirmed courtesy meeting between Horner and an intermediary for Gene Haas, of the eponymous team, Haas\u2019 stance of not wishing to sell the team or divulging any ownership stake remains unchanged.<\/p>\n A random walk in the City, met the Legend himself Christian Horner. Truly a mensch \u2014 Jon Gordon (@jongord0n) November 13, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Read Next:\u00a0Oscar Piastri \u2018secret weapon\u2019 as \u2018assassin\u2019 ally under the microscope<\/a><\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Christian Horner and Zak Brown meet for diplomatic dinner with Mohammed Ben Sulayem<\/a>
\ud83d\udc49 Could Christian Horner\u2019s F1 comeback really be with Ferrari?<\/a><\/p>\n
Architect of @redbullracing<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/MYppF4DQ8p<\/a><\/p>\n