Christian Horner wants to buy Alpine - and that’s bad news for Red Bull

Once a Formula 1 team boss is gone, they usually fade into anonymity. The sport never stands still for long. But with Horner, it’s different. Six months on from being axed by Red Bull as team principal and yet he continues to dominate the headlines.

It’s more than clear that Horner is aiming for a return to Formula 1. Not as employed as a team boss, but as a (co-)owner of a team. Setting up his own team is an option, but that takes time and a spot on the grid is not guaranteed.

More logical and seemingly a preference for Horner as GPblog reports, would be to buy an existing team, with Alpine the only realistic option. Otro Capital would like to sell its minority stake this year, though it’s unclear what the price tag is.

However, if Horner manages to buy those shares in Alpine during the coming season, and after his gardening leave period ends, it would trigger shockwaves through the F1 paddock. First of all, there are implications within Alpine, clearing out the deadwood, where sporting results in recent seasons have been under-whelming.

Secondly, Horner’s return could mean he returns to Red Bull to recruit staff. Horner had tremendous support inside the factory at Red Bull, with many staff keen to work for him again, as they remain loyal to their former boss.

After the mass exodus Red Bull faced last year, the team can hardly afford to lose more people - especially those in senior positions during a complicated rule change.

More clarity will surely emerge about Horner’s potential purchase of Alpine in the coming months. The headlines will undoubtedly keep coming and Red Bull Racing has the right to feel nervous about his return and the impact it will have on their workforce.

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