Ex-Red Bull boss Christian Horner has been tipped to replicate his former foe Toto Wolff and return to Formula 1 with an ownership stake in an existing team.
The 51-year-old was fired by Red Bull on Wednesday, having headed up the Milton Keynes-based squad for the entirety of its 20 years on the grid.
But although Horner confirmed he will remain on its payroll, he has already been backed to make a return to F1 at some stage.
After longstanding rumours of being targeted by Ferrari, Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle suggested a move to the Scuderia would be unlikely due to the likelihood of having no financial interest in the team.
Fellow Sky Sports colleague Karun Chandhok suggested a move to Alpine might be a more likely destination, due to the feasibility of purchasing a stake, as well as his cordial relationship with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore.
Sky’s lead commentator, David Croft, has corroborated this theory, saying that Wolff might be an example of what Horner would like to do in the future.
“He looks at Toto Wolff and sees a man that has risen in the same period that Christian has to own a third of a Formula 1 team,” he said, “and Christian, I’m sure, will have a half an envious eye on that and think, ‘That’s exactly where I should be because I am of that stature.’
“So if that opportunity arises, we’ll definitely see Christian Horner back again.”
Croft warns of no guarantees, says there is ‘no rush’ for Horner to return to F1
Alpine has a long list of high-profile investors, including Patrick Mahomes and Ryan Reynolds, and naturally, there may be other interest in the Enstone-based squad.
Croft concluded that, despite Horner’s wealth, Wolff’s considerable financial clout could make it hard for him to replicate the Austrian’s stance within Mercedes.
“There might be other suitors for Alpine as well, so it’s not a done deal that Christian will be able to buy into Alpine,” he cautioned.
“And also, where does his backing come from? Because I don’t think, albeit a very wealthy man, he’s got the means that Toto Wolff has.”
Croft also suggested that a move to Ferrari would be “probably too soon to jump out of this frying pan and into a bigger fire somewhere in Maranello,” adding: “I think he will take some time out for the time being.
“He doesn’t have to rush into anything, but I would imagine at some stage in the not too distant future, we’ll be stood outside one team base somewhere saying, ‘Christian Horner has come back into F1.’”
READ MORE – Why Christian Horner’s F1 future is unlikely to lie at Ferrari
