Christian Horner is free to return to the Formula 1 grid in 2026 after formally leaving Red Bull. And his former nemesis Zak Brown has now offered his reaction to the news.
Red Bull removed Horner as team principal in July but they needed to agree a severance package before he left the company entirely. That process has now concluded.
It’s believed that Horner can make a comeback from next spring, though he doesn’t just want to be a team principal this time. The consensus is that he’d like a stake in a team to consolidate his power.
Horner’s feud with Brown, along with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, was one of the factors that led to his dismissal. Red Bull’s top management grew frustrated by the tense exchanges, which generated unwanted headlines.
Zak Brown says F1 could benefit from Christian Horner coming back
McLaren’s relationship with Red Bull has improved since Laurent Mekies replaced Horner. Mekies is regarded as a less confrontational figure and has already been invited to the hospitality units of rival teams for initial talks.
Wolff has publicly said that F1 needs controversial figures like Horner. And speaking to Bloomberg, Brown said off-track rivalries were part of the sport’s appeal.
From that standpoint, he suggested that the spectacle could benefit from Horner returning, even though he doesn’t expect them to have ‘too many cups of tea’.
“I think he’s had a stellar career, lots of drivers’ championships,” said Brown. “When you get into sport, not everybody’s best friends, there are different characters.
“While we may not have too many cups of tea [together], you need different types of characters in this sport. That’s what makes this sport exciting. That’s the Netflix effect – what happens off the track.
“Our sport’s unique in that not only is the competition on the track extremely exciting, there’s a lot of competition off the field of play.
“It’s a small group of team bosses and drivers, so the fans can get to know us all. I’ve got my friends in pit lane, and some that aren’t, but I think that’s what makes it exciting, and it’s authentic and genuine.”
Why Christian Horner won’t be making his F1 comeback with Aston Martin
Among other teams, Aston Martin have been linked with Horner. They’ve already signed Adrian Newey following his Red Bull exit, in addition to ex-Mercedes engine chief Andy Cowell and former Ferrari technical director Enrico Cardile.
As the team looks to make the step up from midfield underdog to championship contender, Horner’s ‘stellar’ track record could theoretically appeal. Perhaps he’s the final managerial piece they need.
But there are two big problems. As reported by Motor Sport Magazine, owner Lawrence Stroll is unlikely to grant Horner the level of control he desires.
And what’s more, Newey may block Horner’s arrival through a clause in his contract. The long-serving colleagues grew apart in the months leading to the designer’s resignation.