Christian Horner Linked With Key Role In BYD’s Bid To Enter Formula 1

Christian Horner could be set for a dramatic return to Formula 1, this time potentially helping Chinese automotive giant BYD secure a place on the grid.
Horner was dismissed as Red Bull team principal in July 2025 after two decades in the role, leaving behind a record of eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ titles.
Since his departure, Horner has been pursuing a team ownership role should he return to the F1 paddock, with his name previously linked to positions at Alpine and Haas.
His track record with newly-formed outfits, including guiding Red Bull to a championship within six seasons of the team’s formation, has kept his name in conversations around future grid entries.
BYD, one of the world’s biggest automakers with a market valuation of $125 billion, is understood to be exploring a bid to become the 12th team on the F1 grid.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has previously stated that Formula 1 is keen to attract a Chinese brand to help grow the sport’s presence in the country.
BYD vice-president Stella Li is understood to have held initial talks with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali regarding the prospect of the manufacturer’s entry.
“We are always in close contact,” Li told media when asked about the rumoured meetings with Domenicali, adding: “I like Formula 1 because it’s about passion and culture, and people dream of being in Formula 1.”
Reports now suggest that Li has also held separate talks with Horner, with BYD keen to bring the Briton on board to help navigate the commercial and political barriers to joining the grid.
Those hurdles proved difficult for both Cadillac and Andretti Global in their respective bids, making Horner’s experience and existing relationships particularly valuable to the BYD project.
Horner is known to maintain strong relationships with both Domenicali and Ben Sulayem, which could prove crucial in any formal negotiations if he were to align himself with the BYD bid.
BYD is currently the top-selling electric vehicle brand in the world, though the manufacturer also produces a range of hybrid vehicles, meaning they would not be exclusively reliant on electric technology in F1.
However, Formula 1’s rumoured move away from electric technologies towards sustainable-fuel V8 engines could represent a potential stumbling block for BYD’s long-term ambitions in the sport.
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