Christian Horner is now looking for a new job after being sacked, but one option can gift the Briton what he never had during his 20 years as Red Bull’s F1 team principal.
The 51-year-old took over in Milton Keynes back in January 2005 ahead of Red Bull debuting on the grid after buying the ailing Jaguar outfit from Ford. But while Horner guided the team to eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ titles, the past 18 months have led to his sacking.
Red Bull fell from winning 21 of the 22 Grands Prix during the 2023 F1 season to winning 11 of the following 36. They have also won just two of the 12 so far this season and are relying on Max Verstappen more than ever, with the Dutchman earning 165 of their 172 points yet.
So, Red Bull sacked Horner without telling him why and promoted Racing Bulls chief Laurent Mekies to replace the Briton as their F1 CEO and team principal. Horner is negotiating a pay-off from Red Bull that can break £50m, as his contract does not expire until the end of 2030.
Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty ImagesChristian Horner faces a £298m buy-in to join Alpine as a 20% shareholder
Multiple options have already emerged for the Leamington Spa native to return to a pit wall next year once his gardening leave from Red Bull likely ends. But Ferrari are not expected to target Horner even though team principal Fred Vasseur is out of contract at the end of 2025.
READ MORE: All to know on sacked Red Bull team principal Christian Horner with net worth
TEAM PRINCIPALTEAMAPPOINTEDDEBUT RACEToto WolffMercedesJanuary 20242013 Australian GPAndrea StellaMcLarenDecember 20222023 Bahrain GPFred VasseurFerrariDecember 20222023 Bahrain GPJames VowlesWilliamsJanuary 20232023 Bahrain GPAyao KomatsuHaasJanuary 20242024 Bahrain GPAndy CowellAston MartinJanuary 20252025 Australian GPJonathan WheatleySauberApril 20252025 Japanese GPFlavio Briatore*AlpineMay 20252025 Emilia Romagna GPLaurent MekiesRed BullJuly 20252025 Belgian GPAlan PermaneRacing BullsJuly 20252025 Belgian GPFormula 1 team principals sorted by debut race
*Flavio Briatore took charge from Oliver Oakes as de facto team principal
Instead, FOX Sports now reports the rumour that has ‘gained traction’ since Red Bull sacked Horner is that he could return to Formula 1 with Alpine. It is not impossible that the Enstone crew explore his situation, despite hiring Steve Nielsen as their managing director this July.
But what is improbable is that Horner would agree to take charge as Alpine’s team principal and have to report to executive adviser Flavio Briatore and the Renault Group board. Yet he could ‘bypass’ that issue by buying shares in the team last in the F1 constructors’ standings.
Renault is considering selling a 20% stake in the Alpine F1 team, which would seriously trim the French carmaker’s control having sold a 24% stake to an American group in 2023. Then, Alpine were valued at $1.36bn (£1bn), but they are now worth in excess of $2bn (£1.49bn).
Horner, then, will face a $400m (£298m) buy-in for the sacked Red Bull boss to join Alpine as a 20% shareholder. But the Briton is not believed to have the resources to pay that fee on his own. However, it is not inconceivable that Horner can find some wealthy backers to help.
Christian Horner has spoken with Flavio Briatore and could partner with Bernie Ecclestone
Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images
It has already been suggested that former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone could join Horner in becoming a minority shareholder in Alpine to help pave the path for the sacked Red Bull boss to join the Renault-owned team next year. But Renault is yet to decide Alpine’s future in F1.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage
Even before Red Bull sacked him, Horner flirted with Briatore about joining Alpine as a part-owner as he knew his future in Milton Keynes was at risk. Being a co-owner of a Formula 1 team has long been his great objective, but Red Bull would not make Horner a shareholder.
Horner now needs to wait for the Renault Group to appoint a successor for its CEO, Luca de Meo, after the Italian resigned to take over the Kering Group that owns Gucci. His exit also raises questions about Briatore’s future at Alpine, given he was De Meo’s personal adviser.
Whoever replaces De Meo at the Renault Group will hold the keys to Alpine’s future in F1, and potentially also to Horner and Briatore’s futures. Renault renamed its F1 team as Alpine prior to the 2021 season and has seen the team win one Grand Prix from their 102 entries so far.