Celebrity Formula 1 fan Jeremy Clarkson is struggling to see how Christian Horner ends up at Alpine as the rumour mill suggests.<\/p>\n
Explaining that opinion is due to Alpine\u2019s impending engine partnership with Mercedes, Clarkson believes there are two new names of the F1 scene \u2013 Cadillac and Audi \u2013 who would \u201cjump at the chance\u201d to sign Horner, while if FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has his way, there would be a 12th team from China which could call upon Horner\u2019s services.<\/p>\n
Christian Horner: Audi, Cadillac or China F1 team in his future?<\/p>\n
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher<\/p>\n
Horner was shown the door by Red Bull in a shock development shortly after the British Grand Prix, Horner \u2013 Red Bull Racing\u2019s only team principal since joining the grid in 2005 \u2013 released with immediate effect, with Laurent Mekies installed as the new Red Bull Racing CEO.<\/p>\n
Speculation soon turned to where Horner could potentially pop back up on the Formula 1 grid, with Alpine<\/a> a destination commonly flagged up, a team which Horner has been linked with recently, and which is looking for a new team principal after the sudden exit of Oliver Oakes.<\/p>\n However, with Alpine readying to ditch their Renault works team status and use Mercedes engines from next year, Clarkson cannot envisage Horner being willing to join Alpine and work with his frenemy, Mercedes team boss and one-third owner Toto Wolff, the duo having developed a storied Formula 1 rivalry.<\/p>\n \u201cThe clever money is saying he\u2019ll go to Alpine,\u201d Clarkson wrote about Horner in his column for The Sun<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cBut next year they will have Mercedes engines. Which means Christian would have to work with Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd as those two really don\u2019t get on, I can\u2019t see that happening.\u201d<\/p>\n Alongside Alpine, Ferrari has been linked with rekindling their interest in signing Horner, but with Lewis Hamilton racing for the team, Clarkson sees a further barrier.<\/p>\n Horner and Hamilton found themselves as key figures in the volatile Mercedes versus Red Bull battle over the 2021 titles.<\/p>\n \u201cFerrari? Possibly, but that would mean upping sticks and moving to Italy,\u201d Clarkson continued.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd dealing with Sir Hamilton.\u201d<\/p>\n But, if those two return routes were to be taken off the table, Clarkson does not believe that is necessarily the end of Horner\u2019s F1 story.<\/p>\n It is all change for F1 2026 as new chassis and engine rules come into force, and there will be major team changes too, as Sauber transitions into Audi, and Cadillac F1 join as a new 11th team.<\/p>\n Key F1 2026 details from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 F1 2026: Confirmed teams and power unit suppliers for F1\u2019s huge regulation changes<\/a><\/p>\n