Christian Horner tipped for F1 comeback move: 'He wants to come back'

It was early July last year when Red Bull announced the Brit’s immediate dismissal, with Laurent Mekies stepping in shortly after as CEO and team principal. The Frenchman has undoubtedly done a remarkable job steadying the ship, guiding Max Verstappen into a title fight that went down to the wire despite a significant deficit, while the 2026 campaign has also shown signs of revival after three far from ideal opening races.

Horner, meanwhile, remains on the sidelines, despite his gardening leave coming to an end on April 9, meaning he would have technically been free to join another team. In recent months, speculation has continued to swirl over a possible move to Alpine, including talk of a potential role as a shareholder.

Speaking about the former Red Bull team principal, as reported by RacingNews365, the FIA president said he misses him in the sport and remains in contact with him, adding that he was good for both the team and Formula 1 and that he would welcome his return, with someone of his calibre always likely to find a way back.

Speaking to Sky Sport MotoGP during his appearance in Jerez for last week’s race weekend, Horner played down speculation linking him with Alpine, making it clear he is still taking time away from Formula 1 and has no intention of rushing back into the paddock.

The former team principal stressed that he is enjoying a break from the sport for now, choosing instead to follow other categories and broaden his perspective away from the usual F1 environment. He attended the MotoGP event as a guest of Liberty Media, using the opportunity to experience a different championship from the inside and spend time around a series he has long appreciated as a fan.

Horner explained that stepping away has allowed him to watch racing in a more relaxed way, without the pressures that come with his usual role, and to reconnect with the sport from a purely spectator’s point of view. He also singled out Marc Marquez for praise, highlighting his talent and influence within MotoGP, and drawing a comparison with Verstappen in terms of his dominance and presence on track.