Following his departure from Red Bull, former team boss Christian Horner appears to be seeking a new challenge. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen is also frequently linked with a future transfer. Former driver Riccardo Patrese dreams of a scenario where the two powerhouses join forces again – this time at Aston Martin. Top designer and old acquaintance Adrian Newey has already preceded Horner and Verstappen.
According to Riccardo Patrese, Horner and Verstappen could relive their glory days with the new regulations coming into effect in 2026 – this time in green. Horner, who officially broke with Red Bull in September and reportedly received a severance package of one hundred million dollars, has already been linked to Aston Martin. Team boss Andy Cowell stated in Singapore that Horner ‘has had all team owners on the line.’
Patrese, who describes himself as a friend of Horner, outlines a scenario in which the Brit returns to the sport with Aston Martin – with Max Verstappen at his side. He draws a comparison with the historic transfer of Michael Schumacher. The celebrated German swapped Benetton for Ferrari and won another five titles with the Scuderia.
Aston Martin: The New Red Bull?
“The speculation around Horner and Aston Martin reminds me of the time when Schumacher moved to Ferrari,” Patrese said in an interview with Escapist Magazine. “He brought the best people from Benetton to Ferrari to build a winning team and become world champion – Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne, all those guys he worked with. I see something similar happening with Horner and Max Verstappen. Either way, it’s being talked about. Horner could easily go to Aston Martin to create the new Red Bull there.”
One of the underlying issues between Red Bull and Horner was his cooled relationship with Jos Verstappen. Patrese compares their situation to that of a divorced couple, but does not rule out that Horner and son Max will work together again in the future. “If you divorce your wife, it doesn’t mean you stay angry at each other forever,” said the Italian. “Maybe Horner and Jos will just become friends again in two, three, or four years. And if a team emerges that can fight for the championship – and Max Verstappen can benefit from it – I think Jos would be willing to stay out of it.”
