Dec.17 (GMM) Christian Horner has declined to rule out talks about a potential return to Formula 1 ownership, as reports link the former Red Bull boss with a possible minority stake in Alpine.
According to De Telegraaf, investment firm Otro Capital is exploring the sale of its 24 percent shareholding in the Enstone-based team, with Horner named among interested parties alongside other investors.
“When asked, Horner doesn’t deny that he’s in talks with Renault or Alpine, but he declined to comment further,” the Dutch newspaper reports.
An Alpine spokesperson responded tersely: the team “never publicly comments on such stories.”
Other reports, including in L’Equipe, suggest that Flavio Briatore is not overly happy about Horner’s interest – adding that Renault may be even less keen to reunite with the Briton.
Opinions remain divided over Horner’s legacy. Some argue his aggressive leadership style ultimately harmed Red Bull, while others point to his record – and even suggest Max Verstappen might have secured the 2025 title had Horner, rather than Laurent Mekies, remained in charge.
Mekies, however, rejects the idea that Red Bull has softened without Horner. “I don’t know if Red Bull was more aggressive before,” he said. “Ultimately, we had a fair and clean fight in 2025, and that’s the spirit in which I want to race.
“We still push ourselves to the limits and sometimes beyond. But when it comes to fair play, I’m convinced that both are possible: delivering top performances while simultaneously treating our rivals with respect.”
He added: “We’ve made sure that racing remains the focus and that we don’t get distracted by the extraneous noise. Basically, we just want to do what we love most – make our own car faster on the track.”
Meanwhile, Dr Helmut Marko – another of Red Bull’s long-time hardliners now gone – admitted surprise at the reaction to his own departure.
“I’m positively surprised,” he told Servus TV. “It shows that perhaps we didn’t do everything wrong after all. In hindsight, we might have done one or two things a little differently.
“Ultimately, what remains are four World Championship titles with Sebastian Vettel, four World Championship titles with Max Verstappen, and seven Constructors’ titles.”
Marko insisted Verstappen will cope just fine without him. “Max is a four-time world champion and has become one of the best Formula 1 drivers in the world – he doesn’t need me as a phone-a-friend lifeline,” he said.