Christian Horner met on Wednesday with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem at the governing body’s headquarters in Paris, several sources report. The meeting came as rumours mount that Horner wants to return to F1. He was abruptly dismissed by Red Bull last year. Alpine senior adviser Flavio Briatore earlier said Horner may be interested in buying into the French outfit.
Horner was sacked by Red Bull in July last year. The 52-year-old Brit carries an impressive record in the top flight; over two decades he secured six constructors’ championships and six drivers’ titles with the Austrian squad. His sudden exit followed poor results and internal tensions over his power within the Milton Keynes operation. He also made negative headlines over allegations of inappropriate conduct toward an employee. Because Horner remained under contract until 2030, he is still receiving a hefty severance package.
Since then Horner has not been idle. Aston Martin chief Andy Cowell joked earlier that Horner “has had everyone in the paddock on the line”, hunting for a new role in Formula 1. He is reportedly targeting another high-profile position, preferably tied to an ownership stake in a team. Flavio Briatore confirmed during Alpine’s season launch that Horner, together with investors, is exploring the possibility of acquiring a minority share in the French squad. He is also said to be weighing the option of starting an entirely new team.
Horner flirts with Alpine
According to Sky Sports, Horner met this week with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. His future in the sport may have been on the table. The pair reportedly met on Wednesday at the FIA headquarters in Paris. “Does this mean Christian Horner is seriously putting together a consortium to get a twelfth team onto the F1 grid?” reporter Craig Slater asked aloud. “He has looked into that. My understanding, however, is that the meeting was largely a conversation between friends and that it wasn’t the main topic of discussion.”
According to Slater, Horner’s immediate focus is on Alpine. “The latest around Christian Horner is that he, together with his business partners, made a serious attempt to buy a stake in Alpine. He is one of the interested parties, but as I understand it, Renault ultimately decides who can buy the shares. Horner and his partners are determined; for him this would be the quickest route back into Formula 1. ”
