Following the announcement of Christian Horner’s dismissal from Red Bull Racing, the former team principal has been linked with a number of other teams in the Formula 1 paddock, including Scuderia Ferrari, Alpine, and Aston Martin. As speculation grows over what the future holds for the British manager, many are questioning whether he will walk away from Formula 1 altogether or seek a new challenge elsewhere.
Motorsport journalist James Allen addressed this topic in a recent episode of The Red Flags podcast, where he analyzed the possible scenarios for Horner’s future. According to Allen, there are still too many unknowns to make any definitive predictions, as several key aspects of Christian Horner’s situation remain unclear.
James Allen explained that Christian Horner technically remains on Red Bull’s payroll at this point. Referring to a recent video message in which Horner appeared to sign off publicly alongside Red Bull employees, Allen noted: “I think he can definitely come back if he wants to. Right now, he is still being paid by Red Bull, and he mentioned that in the video with Red Bull staff the other day. What we don’t know is how long this arrangement will last—whether it’s a gardening leave situation or something else entirely. He’s on a very high salary. I’m not sure he’s had enough time to reflect on everything. I imagine he wants to take the summer to figure out what comes next.”
When it comes to the possibility of Christian Horner joining Ferrari, however, Allen was unequivocal in his assessment: that door now appears firmly shut. While the Italian team from Maranello may have considered Horner in the past, recent comments from Ferrari’s chairman John Elkann have ruled out such a move.
James Allen revealed: “I know Ferrari had tried to sign him. Initially, they were aiming to get both Horner and Adrian Newey on board, but that didn’t work out. More recently, they sounded him out again to see whether he might be interested. But after his dismissal, John Elkann—Ferrari’s top executive—made it clear that Horner would not be going to Ferrari.”
Allen added that even if current Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur does not remain in charge beyond the 2025 season, Christian Horner is not being considered as a replacement: “Even if Fred Vasseur doesn’t continue into 2026, it won’t be Horner stepping in to take over the role.”
A new leadership role?
According to James Allen, should Christian Horner return to the Formula 1 grid, he may be aiming for a more influential and strategic position than just team principal—one that includes ownership or equity, following the example of Mercedes-AMG Team Principal Toto Wolff.
“My feeling is that if Horner comes back to Formula 1, it will be with a team where he can hold an ownership stake. He looks at Toto Wolff and envies that position—being both a team principal and a shareholder. He’s also envious that Adrian Newey has become a shareholder as part of his move to Aston Martin. So, perhaps acquiring Alpine with a group of Qatari investors or something similar would be the route he takes. He could become a co-owner and transform it into a competitive team—or maybe explore another team entirely. I don’t think he’s interested in returning to Formula 1 as just an employee.”
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