![\"Ex-F1](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/XPB_1316345_HiRes.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBernie Ecclestone says he doesn’t think Christian Horner will come back to F1 without a stake in a team. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBernie Ecclestone says he doesn’t think Christian Horner will come back to F1 without a stake in a team. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
Horner was removed from his position<\/a> immediately after last month\u2019s British Grand Prix, ending a 20-year tenure that began before Red Bull\u2019s debut season in 2005.<\/p>\n During that time, he helped deliver six constructors\u2019 championships and eight drivers\u2019 titles shared between Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.<\/p>\n He was replaced by Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies, who stepped up to become chief executive and team principal.<\/p>\n Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Ecclestone said the shock of the exit is still fresh for Horner.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the moment, I think it\u2019s still a bit of a shock for him,\u201d Ecclestone said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo he will gradually get over this and realise there are other things in the world to do and he\u2019ll get on and do them.\u201d<\/p>\n Ecclestone, who has been close to Horner throughout his career, admitted he has told people inside Red Bull the manner of the dismissal was \u201ca little bit ruthless,\u201d but added the team was determined to act quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cThey decided this was what they were going to do and they had to get on and do it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Horner had been linked with a potential move to Ferrari earlier this year, but that door closed when the Scuderia confirmed a new multi-year deal for Fred Vasseur at last month\u2019s Hungarian Grand Prix.<\/a><\/p>\n Ecclestone believes that unless Horner can replicate a role similar to Toto Wolff\u2019s at Mercedes \u2014 combining team management with ownership \u2014 the 51-year-old may choose to stay away.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know how or where or whether he wants to [come back to F1],\u201d Ecclestone said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe probably doesn\u2019t want to because the position he really wanted at Red Bull was to own part of the team. Unless he gets somebody to put the money up to buy a team, I can\u2019t see it happening.\u201d<\/p>\n