Max Verstappen<\/a> and Sebastian Vettel both became four-time world champions under Horner, but Red Bull\u2019s owners decided that a change of direction was needed halfway through the 2025 F1 campaign<\/a>.<\/p>\n Laurent Mekies was installed as Horner\u2019s successor<\/a>, and suddenly, hope has returned after a difficult 18 months.<\/p>\n Position Drivers’ Championship PointsPts 1 324 2 299 3 255 4 212 5 165 6 121 7 78 8 70 9 39 10 37 <\/p>\n Verstappen has won two races on the bounce, and while he\u2019s still 69 points behind Oscar Piastri with seven race weekends left, nobody is ruling him out of the drivers\u2019 championship<\/a> yet.<\/p>\n Horner has now agreed a compensation package with Red Bull<\/a> and will be free to return to Formula 1 next year.<\/p>\n Where he turns up next is now the question on everyone\u2019s lips.<\/p>\n The F1 driver market<\/a> next year is expected to take plenty of twists and turns due to the new regulations being introduced.<\/p>\n With Horner now available, it wouldn\u2019t be a surprise if a few team principals were also under pressure.<\/p>\n READ MORE: All to know about sacked Red Bull team principal Christian Horner with net worth<\/a><\/p>\n Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner<\/a> was asked during The Red Flags Podcast \u2018Gas or Brake\u2019 segment whether he thought Horner would be back on the grid next season.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cBrake!<\/p>\n \u201cI think he will wait a little bit. He\u2019s eager to get there, but, at the moment, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s anything there for him that he wants to do.<\/p>\n CHRISTIAN HORNER\u2019S RECORD AS RED BULL F1 TEAM PRINCIPALGrands Prix entered406Wins124Podiums287Pole positions107Points8,009Drivers\u2019 championships8 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)Constructors\u2019 championships6 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2023)<\/p>\n \u201cI think he wants to be part of a team owning, and I don\u2019t think there\u2019s anything for sale or to be headed at, even if you want to buy it, I mean, it\u2019s a lot of money.<\/p>\n \u201cI know he got a lot of money, but what he got is not enough to buy a team. He would not do anything other than being a team principal, even going to Alpine to work with Flavio. I mean, you know, that would not work, Flav and him in the top position.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, then Flavio would need to go, and it doesn\u2019t look like Flav is going anywhere soon.<\/p>\n \u201cHe can wait. Christian doesn\u2019t need to be in a hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: All you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage<\/a><\/p>\n Renault CEO confirms Alpine have long-term interest in remaining in Formula 1<\/p>\n Alpine<\/a> currently sit at the bottom of the constructors\u2019 championship<\/a>, and after 17 races, one side of the garage has yet to score a point.<\/p>\n Flavio Briatore<\/a> has overseen the team since Oliver Oakes quit, with the experienced Steve Nielsen only just arriving.<\/p>\n Horner has been linked with investing in Alpine as a part-owner<\/a>, with suggestions that the parent company, Renault<\/a>, could be interested in selling the outfit.<\/p>\n![\"Red](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2168424131-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Mark Thompson\/Getty ImagesGuenther Steiner says Christian Horner \u2018would not work\u2019 at Alpine alongside Flavio Briatore<\/p>\n