Could Christian Horner Make An F1 Comeback After £75 Million Severance Deal?

Three months after Red Bull showed him the door, Christian Horner is already making noise about getting back in the game. The question isn’t whether he’ll return to Formula 1. It’s where and when.



Horner’s £75 million severance deal included a specific clause allowing him to rejoin the sport by spring 2026. That’s not the kind of agreement you negotiate if you’re planning to retire. He wants back in, and he wants in fast.



The speculation started almost immediately. Ferrari emerged as a potential destination, with reports suggesting talks with team chairman John Elkann. It would be a sensational move and even the best trusted UK bookies have listed Ferrari as a likely landing spot, though nothing has been confirmed. Ferrari is Formula 1 royalty, but it’s also a team that hasn’t won a title in years and might be looking for someone who knows how to build a winning operation.



But there’s a problem. Horner has made it clear he wants total control over any team he joins. That worked at Red Bull, where he ran everything from the race team to the engine division. Ferrari doesn’t operate that way. Neither do most teams on the grid.



Aston Martin has also been floated as a possibility, though they’ve already stuffed their management team with big names like Adrian Newey and Andy Cowell. Where would Horner fit? Not easily.



Then there’s the wildcard option. Sources suggest Horner is considering starting his own team from scratch as F1’s 12th entry. It’s ambitious. It’s expensive. And it would take until 2028 at the earliest to get on the grid.



But here’s why it makes sense. Building your own team means owning it. That’s something Horner never had at Red Bull, despite two decades of success. Reports indicate investors are ready to back whatever project Horner takes on. With F1 team values skyrocketing, starting fresh could be a smart financial play.



The timing matters. New regulations hit in 2026 , completely reshaping both engines and chassis. Nobody knows who’ll be fastest when those rules land. For teams already on the grid, it’s a gamble. For Horner, it’s a chance to learn what works before committing to anything.



McLaren boss Zak Brown acknowledged Horner’s stellar career and championship record, which tells you everything about how the paddock views him. Love him or hate him, Horner knows how to win. He delivered 14 world titles at Red Bull, including four straight championships with Sebastian Vettel and another four with Max Verstappen.



The question haunting all this is whether Max Verstappen will stick with Red Bull beyond 2026 . Verstappen confirmed he’s staying for next season, but performance clauses in his contract could let him walk if the team struggles. If Horner lands somewhere with a competitive 2026 package, could Verstappen follow? It’s not impossible.



For now, Horner is biding his time. He’s been linked with Alpine, Aston Martin, and Haas, though none have confirmed serious interest. The smart money says he’s evaluating everything before making a move.



What’s certain is this: Horner didn’t negotiate an early release from Red Bull to sit on the sidelines. He’s 51, competitive, and has money backing him. The F1 paddock hasn’t seen the last of Christian Horner.



Whether he returns as Ferrari’s saviour, Aston Martin’s missing piece, or the architect of F1’s newest team, one thing is clear. The man who built Red Bull into a dominant force isn’t done with Formula 1. Not by a long shot.




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