Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle has downplayed the likelihood of Christian Horner joining Aston Martin due to a probability of the former Red Bull boss having less autonomy.
Horner has been out of Formula 1 since being unceremoniously fired by Red Bull just days after last year’s British Grand Prix.
In the intervening months, the 51-year-old has been reportedly eyeing a way back into the sport, with links to numerous teams, most notably Alpine.
Horner is allegedly looking to purchase the 24 percent stake in the Enstone-based squad, owned by Otro Capital, but is apparently facing competition from old adversary Toto Wolff, who is leading a Mercedes-based bid for the slice.
With Aston Martin facing a reshuffle in its high ranks, with Newey set to be looking to revert back to a more technical-only role, rumours have pointed towards both his and Horner’s former Red Bull colleague, Jonathan Wheatley.
Rumours of Aston’s restructuring plans came to light at the same time that Wheatley sensationally quit Audi after just two Grands Prix, sparking an inevitable media frenzy that he could have been headhunted by Newey.
Horner has said that he would be keen to return to the F1 fold but did not envisage it would be in the same capacity, hinting that he would be indeed set to look at a role with financial clout.
And Brundle believes that this is why that a move to Aston Martin would be an unlikely one.
“I doubt it, because he wants a slice of a team that he goes to,” the former Grand Prix driver said.
Brundle, when asked if part-owner Lawrence Stroll would be amenable to Horner holding some control said: “He might want to do that.
“I mean, Christian might be picking up some shares somewhere in one of the teams a bit more cheaply down the road, I don’t know.
“I think he’ll wait and get the right situation.”
Team Principal role ‘not the best use’ of Newey’s talents at Aston Martin
Brundle questioned Newey’s deployment into the Team Principal role, which was confirmed just before the end of 2025, having spent the year designing the current AMR26.
“I don’t think putting Adrian in as Team Principal or anything like that is a good use of his talents,” he said.
“He’s not really a leader of people, I don’t think. I think he’s just a genius and should be focused on that, and somebody else needs to be doing the logistical stuff and the meetings and what have you.
“I just think it’s not the best use of Adrian’s talent.”
Newey’s place on the pit wall may be tweaked once again, as it continues to feel as if he is a holding boss whilst the Silverstone-based squad looks for someone they will be a more permanent stalwart.
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