Horner planning to undertake major career move alongside Ecclestone?

More than a week has passed, yet Christian Horner’s dismissal remains the hottest topic of conversation—both within Red Bull and across the entire paddock.

As widely reported, the Leamington Spa-born manager has stepped down from his roles as CEO and Team Principal, handing the reins over to Laurent Mekies with immediate effect. Mekies now faces the daunting task of taking over an incredibly demanding legacy.

Technically, Horner is still employed by the Milton Keynes team until the end of the season, but many are already speculating about what his next move might be.

One of the most credible possibilities is Alpine, which is still searching for a team principal following the appointment of Steve Nielsen as Managing Director.

Adding fuel to the speculation is Horner’s long-standing friendship with Flavio Briatore, with whom he has publicly exchanged playful remarks on multiple occasions—even during press conferences.

According to Dutch commentator Nelson Valkenburg, however, a potential move to Alpine would represent more than just a straightforward appointment as team principal.

It’s no secret that Horner has long aspired to a role similar to that of Toto Wolff—and the French team could be the perfect opportunity to make that ambition a reality.

“I just have a feeling he’s going to end up at Alpine. I’ve seen him in talks with both De Meo, who’s out, I know and Briatore for hours and hours,'' Valkenburg said on The Race F1 podcast.

“There have been rumours in this paddock that with some backing, maybe from Bernie Ecclestone himself, he could find himself at least a minority stake owner at Alpine,'' Valkenburg added.