Last July, Red Bull announced the dismissal of Christian Horner after 20 years as team director. The 51-year-old had been Red Bull’s only team principal since its first Formula 1 season in 2005.
Horner’s dismissal came 17 months after a colleague accused him of “inappropriate behaviour”. Earning a salary in excess of €9m, Horner led Milton Keynes-based Red Bull since arriving on the grid in 2005 and oversaw a huge period of success. Red Bull has won seven drivers’ championships and six constructors’ championships under his command.
He managed to survive accusations of inappropriate behavior and was twice cleared in internal investigations for irregularities, but he was eventually fired and the team announced that former Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies would be his replacement.
Now, and after months of rumors about a possible landing at Aston Martin, Horner’s return to Formula One is closer than ever after having started talks to lead a team next year.
More than a team manager
Since his departure, the Briton has been keen to secure a return to Formula One, whether as a team principal or even in a more senior role within an F1 team. Several teams have been linked with a move for Horner, but one appears to be closer than the rest as they have officially entered into talks to secure Horner’s return to the grid next year.
After Horner’s dismissal, Aston Martin appeared to be the most likely candidate for Horner’s next team after Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s legendary car designer, joined the team in early 2025. However, the former Red Bull boss’s hopes of following Newey to Aston Martin were ruined after the team confirmed that Newey himself would take on the role of team principal in the upcoming 2026 season.
But, as De Telegraaf announced a few days ago, Horner He is now getting closer to returning to F1, and the million-dollar plan to join Alpine in 2026 is underway.
According to the aforementioned media, the person who led the energy drink team for two decades leads a consortium which is evaluating presenting an offer close to 763 million euros to retain majority control of the French team. An operation of which more details are now known.
The plan would include an imminent operation, according to what was published by Auto Motor Sport. The current minority partners—Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners and Maximum Effort Investments— They would be willing to part with their 24%, a stake they acquired in 2023 for 200 million euros. It still remains to be determined whether Renault would give up an additional portion of its share package.
Should Horner’s arrival materialize, the team would add one of the most successful directors of the modern era. Since 2005, the Briton commanded Red Bull Racing and accumulated 14 world titles, including team championships and drivers’ crowns with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, until his departure after internal conflicts.
Horner’s demand
According to the German media, the former Red Bull boss would not accept a decorative role. Its intention would be to have a decisive weight in the management of the project, supported by its status as a controlling shareholder. That demand, precisely, was one of the factors that complicated previous agreements and also marked his departure from the Austrian team.
A demand that opens another key question: the future of Flavio Briatore. The Italian returned in 2024 as an advisor and then took over on an interim basis following the departure of Oliver Oakes in 2025. With two strong leadership figures on the scene, his future could be up in the air.
