Christian Horner is free to return to Formula 1 sooner than perhaps many expected due to the terms of his Red Bull severance deal, according to reports.
The 51-year-old formally cut all ties to the Milton Keynes-based squad on Monday, after agreeing a deal thought to be in region of £50-80 million.
Horner was sensationally fired from the team in July, just a matter of days after the British Grand Prix, ending Horner’s 20-year tenure as its only ever boss.
All operational duties Horner held were handed over to Laurent Mekies, who is now Team Principal and CEO.
The team has refound its mojo in the months since Mekies took the helm, with Max Verstappen winning the last two Grands Prix to give himself an outside chance of retaining the title.
But whilst it appears the team isn’t missing the influence of Horner, it might see him in the paddock sooner than they thought.
Sky Sports F1 broadcaster Craig Slater has reported that Horner rejected an even larger amount of money to ensure terms that would see him join a rival outfit by next year.
“He has taken a bit less money in order to make himself free again to rejoin Formula 1 competition in 2026,” Slater explained.
“It won’t be from the beginning of 2026, but he would say be able to work for, or be part of, another team, before next summer.
“So let’s say late Spring 2026 Christian Horner could be back on the F1 scene again.”
Horner ready to make F1 return amid Alpine links
Horner has been the subject of speculation surrounding a potential link-up with friend Flavio Briatore at Alpine.
A move to Enstone may be more of an attractive proposition for Horner, compared to a move to Ferrari, with which he was previously rumoured.
Horner would be able to remain based in the UK, and would be likely to invest his now-significantly-increased wealth to hold a stake in the team.
Asked if he wants to return to F1 this soon, Slater said: “My understanding is that yes he does. The batteries have been recharged.
“He has been very much occupied with negotiating this severance, that’s the first thing to say, so he has not turned his mind fully and examined all the potential avenues to bring him back at this point.
“Interesting to dwell on what he has been doing since he left operational duties in the summer break.
“He’s been a full-time dad, he’s been doing the drop-off, the pick-up from school every day, I’ve been told. He’s been to see Oasis and Coldplay. So he’s had a bit of music.
“He’s going away with Geri Horner, his famous wife – the ex-Spice Girl – on holiday for a week now.
“When he comes back from that he will turn his attention to what might be the next steps in rejoining the fray as it where.
“He still thinks he has a lot to give. He’s only 51. He has money behind him now, some extra money and I think he wants to get right back up there if he can. He’s a competitive animal.
“This did hurt him, it did set him back, it was a painful exit from a company he felt he had developed into a world-beating operation.
“But this maybe gives him an opportunity to be more than just a team boss.”
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