It was probably one of the biggest shocks to the entire Formula 1 paddock and also marked the 2025 season that has just concluded. On July 9, in a move that came like a bolt from the blue, Red Bull announced the dismissal of its team principal, Christian Horner, following a period of unsatisfactory results while he served as CEO and team principal of the Milton Keynes squad. A decline that began in mid-2024 and, over two seasons, led the energy drink team to lose, first to McLaren, the Constructors’ Championship in the previous season, and then both world titles in the most recent year.
It’s not over yet
Despite everything, the 52-year-old British manager does not consider his Formula 1 career “over.” Within the paddock, there has been constant speculation about his desire to return to the sport as soon as possible—not only as a team principal but also as a shareholder in a team, following the model established by Toto Wolff at Mercedes, who has long served as both team principal and CEO of Mercedes AMG F1. According to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, multiple authoritative sources indicate that in recent months, Chris Horner has assembled a group of investors, a consortium that is reportedly in negotiations with Alpine to enter the shareholding of the French team led by Flavio Briatore.
The Alpine situation
The Anglo-French team currently has a shareholding structure in which Renault owns the majority, 76% of the shares, while the remaining 24% is held by Otro Capital, an Anglo-American fund. It is precisely this 24% stake that the investor group led by Chris Horner is said to be interested in acquiring, as the US-based fund is reportedly considering selling its entire stake. This potential return to F1 is something the English manager has not denied: “When asked, Christian Horner did not deny being in talks with Renault/Alpine, but he declined to make further comments.”
As the silly season extends into the off-season, Christian Horner’s rumored maneuver underscores his enduring ambition and the fluid nature of top-level F1 management. Fans and insiders alike will watch closely for official developments on what could become one of the most intriguing storylines heading into the new era.
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