Jeremy Clarkson has named three Formula 1 teams that would “jump at the chance” to sign Christian Horner, dismissing the idea that Alpine would be one of them.
Horner was sensationally sacked by Red Bull earlier this month, having led the team since its inception in 2005.
Having taken a team from modest nascency to multiple World Champions in that time, Horner has naturally been swiftly linked with potential new avenues for a return to the sport.
Rumours of a move to Ferrari have reopened, as well as a potential switch to Alpine, which would link him up with friend Flavio Briatore.
But writing in his column for The Sun, Clarkson, a longstanding F1 fan, did not believe the Enstone-based squad would be a logical destination.
“The clever money is saying he’ll go to Alpine,” he wrote. “But next year they will have Mercedes engines.
“Which means Christian would have to work with Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff. And as those two really don’t get on, I can’t see that happening.”
Clarkson also wrote off the likelihood of making a switch to Maranello, despite Ferrari chairman John Elkann having a long-standing interest in Horner’s services.
“Ferrari? Possibly, but that would mean upping sticks and moving to Italy,” he continued. “And dealing with Sir Hamilton.”
Clarkson theorised that the two new teams on the grid – Cadillac and Audi – would be suitable destinations for Horner, despite both of them having Team Principals, the latter being his former Sporting Director at Red Bull, Jonathan Wheatley.
There is also talk that there could be a Chinese entrant at some point in the future, with the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem open to the idea of a 12th team.
“Audi is coming into the sport next year, and Cadillac. And there’s talk the Chinese are making F1 noises,” Clarkson noted.
“And all of them would jump at the chance of getting Horner.”
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