Why Christian Horner’s return to Formula 1 may have to wait

January 10, 2026 Oliver Obel

Christian Horner’s expected route back to Formula 1 is beginning to look more dependent on boardroom calendars than pit lane vacancies, with recent reporting pointing to ownership rules as a potential brake on any swift comeback.

Since his exit from Red Bull Racing, Horner has been linked with roles across the paddock ahead of the sport’s regulatory overhaul in 2026. Yet while opportunities appear to exist, the mechanics of team ownership increasingly complex in modern Formula 1 may dictate when his return becomes possible.

A long tenure comes to an abrupt end

Horner was dismissed as team principal and chief executive of Red Bull Racing in July, ending a tenure that began with the team’s first season in 2005. Over nearly two decades, he presided over every race weekend in Red Bull’s history, guiding the organisation through multiple championship-winning eras and becoming one of the sport’s most influential figures.

Following his departure, Red Bull placed Horner on gardening leave, with his contract originally due to run until the end of 2030 a move that initially shut the door on any immediate return elsewhere in Formula 1.

Settlement removes restrictions, not uncertainty

That restriction was lifted in September, when Red Bull and Horner reached an early settlement to terminate the agreement. BBC Sport reported the deal was worth around £52 million, although other outlets cited different figures.

Regardless of the precise sum, the settlement removed non-compete limitations and made a return from the 2026 season onward legally possible but it did not guarantee how that return would take shape.

Alpine emerges as a potential destination

Attention soon turned to Alpine. According to F1 journalist Pedro Fermin Flores, Horner has held discussions about becoming team principal at the Enstone-based team, who finished bottom of the Constructors’ Championship in 2025.

Other reports suggest those talks go further, with Horner said to be in advanced negotiations over acquiring a stake in the team. Alpine is currently overseen by executive adviser and acting team principal Flavio Briatore, a long-time associate of Horner.

Ownership rules complicate any takeover plan

A dual role combining management and ownership would reflect a broader shift in Formula 1, where senior figures increasingly seek equity positions as team valuations continue to rise.

However, PlanetF1 has reported that a contractual detail could complicate any ownership-based move. Alpine is minority owned by a consortium led by private equity firm Otro Capital, which holds a 24 per cent stake. Forbes valued that holding at approximately $588 million in November, amid suggestions the group may be open to selling.

Why timing may decide Horner’s next move

According to PlanetF1, the sale agreement effectively prevents Otro from selling its stake until three years after the adoption of the governing articles a clause that freezes any transaction until at least late 2026 and requires approval from Renault, Alpine’s parent company.

That limitation would not prevent Horner from returning to Formula 1 purely as team principal. But reporting from De Telegraaf in December claimed he was assembling a group of investors, indicating that ownership rather than a standalone management role may be central to his long-term plans.

If so, Horner’s return may depend less on which teams are searching for leadership and more on when Formula 1’s increasingly corporate structures allow a deal to be done.

Sources: BBC Sport, PlanetF1, Forbes, De Telegraaf