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<\/p>\nFormer F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone says Christian Horner\u2019s reputation will put him in a \u201cdifficult position\u201d as the former Red Bull Racing principal attempts to return to the sport in a high-profile management role.<\/p>\n
Horner was sacked from the top job at Red Bull Racing almost exactly a year ago, on 9 July 2025, days after last season\u2019s British Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
Though no reason was given at the time, new management at Red Bull\u2019s Austrian headquarters had grown uncomfortable with the amount of power Horner had accumulated over his 20 years in the job. The team\u2019s downturn in form, combined with threats from Max Verstappen to quit the team, motivated the board to remove him from his post and install Laurent Mekies in his place.<\/p>\n
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Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n The move came as a shock to Horner, who reportedly received a bank-busting US$100 million (A$145 million) payout<\/a> after months of negotiations to cancel his contract.<\/p>\n The Englishman, however, later declared that he has \u201cunfinished business\u201d in Formula 1<\/a>, and he has been regularly linked to comebacks with other teams.<\/p>\n He is most closely connected with a possible buyout of a 24 per cent share in the Alpine team, but he has also been linked to a prospective new entry from Chinese auto giant BYD as well as the struggling Aston Martin team.<\/p>\n Ecclestone, however, says that any of option will present Horner with hurdles to enhancing his Formula 1 reputation.<\/p>\n \u201cChristian is in a difficult position anyway,\u201d he said, per PlanetF1.<\/p>\n \u201cWherever he goes, if he doesn\u2019t succeed successfully, people will say, \u2018Ah, Christian, you were very good when you were with Red Bull and budgets and things like that\u2019 and then, \u2018Now you\u2019re not winning because of that.\u2019 So it\u2019s difficult for him.\u201d<\/p>\n Horner helmed Red Bull Racing for its entire history under ownership of the Austrian drinks company, dating back to 2005, when Red Bull bought the languishing Ford-owned Jaguar team.<\/p>\n Red Bull Racing claimed 124 wins and 14 world championships \u2014 six constructors titles and eight drivers titles \u2014 on Horner\u2019s watch, making him one of the most successful team managers in history.<\/p>\n Ecclestone revealed that he had pushed Horner to pursue the top job at Ferrari in the aftermath of his sacking \u2014 \u201cI speak to him quite regularly \u2026 I was trying to convince him to try and be at Ferrari,\u201d he said \u2014 but that he was none the wiser as to his plans for a comeback.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve no idea,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n PIT TALK PODCAST: George Russell claims just his second grand prix victory of the season in Austria to cut his championship deficit to 40 points, but should Max Verstappen have won the race \u2014 and what does Red Bull Racing\u2019s big upgrade mean for his future as speculation continues to swirl around his intentions? | Listen to Pit Talk ><\/a><\/p>\n Horner had been linked to Ferrari in the months before his dismissal, when faith in Maranello incumbent Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Vasseur appeared to be wavering, but declared he was all-in on Red Bull Racing. The axe swung just six weeks later.<\/p>\n Vasseur was re-signed on a deal running until the end of next season three weeks after Horner\u2019s sacking.<\/p>\n The logic of a Ferrari move is suspect anyway given Horner\u2019s stated intention to return to the sport in a position more powerful than just team principal.<\/p>\n Vasseur\u2019s role is less powerful than Horner\u2019s old job at Red Bull Racing. Whereas Horner was also chief executive, Vasseur works underneath Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna and executive chairman John Elkann, heir of the Italian Agnelli industrial dynasty.<\/p>\n \u201cI would want to be a partner rather than just a hired hand,\u201d the Englishman said earlier this year, but the prospect of the team principalship remit being widened for Horner is slim.<\/p>\n Ecclestone, however, declared that Italian icon Ferrari would benefit from more international input \u2014 notwithstanding Vasseur is a Frenchman with no prior association with F1\u2019s most famous team.<\/p>\n \u201cThe trouble with Ferrari: I think there\u2019s too many Italians involved explaining what to do and what not to do,\u201d he said, per Crash.<\/p>\n \u201cYou just need really one person [to] do this or do that. Whether they\u2019re right or wrong, time will tell them.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamilton admits Ferrari struggles | 00:29<\/p>\n HORNER COMEBACK STALLED DESPITE MULTIPLE OPTIONS<\/p>\n Horner has been most closely connected to Alpine, where a group of American investors has been negotiating to sell its 24 per cent share in the Renault-owned team.<\/p>\n Despite Horner\u2019s history of antagonising Renault during its time supplying Red Bull Racing with hybrid power units between 2014 and 2018, he had been considered the frontrunner to purchase the stake with the backing of a consortium of wealthy supporters.<\/p>\n However, the Mercedes team \u2014 owned jointly by principal Toto Wolff\u2019s investment company, British chemical giant Ineos and the Mercedes Group \u2014 emerged late and became Renault\u2019s preferred bidder.<\/p>\n Talks collapsed at the 11th hour, however, reportedly over disagreement over the value of the 24 per cent share. <\/p>\n According to the BBC, Otro was asking for US$720 million (A$1 billion) for the share, more than triple the approximately $330 million it paid for it in 2023.<\/p>\n The transaction would have valued Alpine at $4.17 billion.<\/p>\n Mercedes, however, baulked at the price tag, believing the team, which has won just one race since Renault\u2019s return to the sport in 2016, to be worth no more than $3.3 billion.<\/p>\n The scuppered deal should be good news for Horner, but Renault has reportedly iced further talks on a sale. It has veto power over the 24 per cent share until September, after which Otro will reportedly be free to resume negotiations with whomever party it chooses.<\/p>\n MORE FORMULA 1<\/p>\n DRIVER MARKET: F1\u2019s biggest axe risk; Max reality check… and if Aussie can return<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE\u2019: What\u2019s behind F1\u2019s $311m chaos as volatile state of play explained<\/a><\/p>\n