Report: £800m-valued F1 team not interested in ‘substantial’ sale as Christian Horner eyes part-owner role

Christian Horner is likely to be linked with every team on the grid before he finally makes his return to Formula 1.

It’s even been suggested that Horner could become part of a 12th team looking to emulate Cadillac and join Formula 1 in the future.

That appears unlikely, but until then, Christian Horner can consider his options until his gardening leave ends.

Horner received a significant payout from Red Bull after being sacked following 20 years as team principal.

It’s believed that Horner would like to have an ownership stake in the next team he joins, which might further limit his options.

It’s hard to imagine Ferrari letting a piece of the sport’s most historic team go, while Toto Wolff is unlikely to want to work with Horner given their previous rivalry.

This leaves the 51-year-old with a conundrum, and now, it appears another option might be off the table with no sign that their current owner is willing to part ways with a stake in his team.

READ MORE: All to know about sacked Red Bull team principal Christian Horner with net worth

Haas don’t want to sell a ‘substantial’ portion of their Formula 1 amid Christian Horner links

A report from BBC Sport has shared more details on the options currently available to Horner.

It mentions that the likes of Aston Martin and Alpine have been suggested as potential next destinations for the former Red Bull man, but there are pros and cons to him joining both outfits.

Horner was linked with Ferrari at one point, but the team’s position as a listed company would make selling to him even more difficult, and he would need outside investment to make a deal work.

The £800m-valued Haas team, owned and founded by Gene Haas, have also emerged as an option.

Sources close to Horner believe Haas is a legitimate option, but the BBC’s report suggests that Haas have no interest in selling a ‘substantial’ portion of the team right now.

Given the American outfit’s current standing, sitting ninth in the constructors’ championship with the smallest workforce in Formula 1, it would be extremely difficult for Horner to replicate the work he did at Red Bull with them.

Haas have functioned with far lower costs than many of their rivals by using as many parts from Ferrari as possible since their debut.

Horner, on the other hand, was expanding Red Bull’s processes, with an in-house power unit arriving on the grid next year.

He may be able to overlook their contrasting philosophies if he had the opportunity to take a larger leadership role within the team.

READ MORE: All to know about Haas F1 Team from team principal to Ferrari and Toyota ties

What Christian Horner said about Haas during their maiden Formula 1 season

Horner was asked during Haas’ debut season in 2016, in an interview with Motorsport, about their relationship with Ferrari and Guenther Steiner’s team at the time, utilising the maximum number of components from their Italian rivals.

He said: “To be honest, I don’t think it is a bad thing.

“It demonstrates that you can be competitive without having to employ 600 people and spend €200m [£174m].

“When you look at the problem of some of the teams, while there will be all the arguments that it is not in the DNA of F1, it is far better to have healthy racing, and giving drivers like [Romain] Grosjean the chance, than being consigned to the back of the grid.”

Working for Haas would arguably be the most difficult challenge Horner could take on if he decided to return to Formula 1.

That’s unlikely to stop him, though, if the deal to begin any sort of partnership was favourable enough.