Christian Horner is once again in the spotlight. Whether due to growing speculation linking him to Ferrari or reports of numerous calls with various F1 team executives, the former Red Bull team principal appears increasingly close to making a return to the Grand Prix paddock.
Following his lucrative exit from Milton Keynes and a relatively short gardening leave ending in spring 2026, Horner recently cleared the last significant obstacle between him and a team pit wall: a civil lawsuit from a former collaborator alleging sexual harassment has been settled out of court for approximately €3.5 million, preventing the case from going to trial.
The unresolved question: F1 team shares
With that chapter closed, Horner’s focus is now entirely on the future. While he has remained silent publicly, former F1 driver and current Sky F1 analyst Martin Brundle has spoken on his behalf. According to Brundle, one key issue remains: Horner wants a role similar to Toto Wolff, which would require owning shares—possibly a minority stake—of the team he joins, giving him influence in decision-making. Martin Brundle explained: “When I spoke with him, he made it clear that he will return only if he has a personal stake, some ownership in the team, and can build something, rather than just being a manager as he was at Red Bull. Christian couldn’t secure any ownership there, and Toto Wolff’s example is exactly the type of role he’s seeking, since Wolff owns a third of Mercedes.”
The 12th team option isn’t feasible (for now)
Martin Brundle added to Sky Sports News, “It’s not surprising that Horner is knocking on some doors to see who might be available. But there aren’t many doors to knock on under that aspect.” There has even been speculation about him leading a group of investors to create a 12th F1 team, although the idea is not popular with Formula 1 management: “I think current F1 teams and other investors are strongly opposed to a 12th team while they are focused on defining the 2026 regulations. This could be another hurdle for Christian, but F1 is his life. That’s where his skills and experience lie.”
Could MotoGP be an alternative?
Martin Brundle also suggested that Christian Horner might explore opportunities in MotoGP, noting that acquiring shares in an existing F1 team—especially a top team like Ferrari—appears difficult at present: “I’m sure he’s also considering MotoGP. It has just been taken over by the same people who manage F1, Liberty Media, so it’s a championship that will grow. But I imagine his focus will remain on Formula 1 to see where he can return. I’m sure there will be partners, sponsors, and others willing to join Christian Horner on this journey.”
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