Christian Horner’s F1 future is suddenly one of the paddock’s hottest topics after his official departure from Red Bull earlier this week, ending a 20-year tenure that cemented him among the sport’s most successful team principals.
While Horner walked away with a reported £75 million ($100 million) pay-off, the question now is: what’s next for the Briton?
According to the Daily Mail, one surprising suggestion has come from none other than former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
The 94-year-old, who remains close friends with Horner, has reportedly advised the former Red Bull team principal to consider taking the reins of MotoGP, the leading motorcycle racing series now owned by Formula 1’s commercial rights holder Liberty Media.
“Bernie Ecclestone, 94 years old and F1’s irrepressible former impresario, has suggested to Horner in private conversations he might be well-advised to go to MotoGP, the leading motorcycling series — to run it, to be the Ecclestone of two wheels,” the report states.
MotoGP: The Left-Field Alternative
The idea of Horner taking his management acumen to two wheels may seem radical, but it has precedent. Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner recently led a consortium that acquired KTM Tech3, showing that the worlds of motorcycles and Formula 1 can intersect when seasoned operators move across disciplines.
©MotoGP
Ecclestone’s advice positions Horner as a potential “Ecclestone of MotoGP,” hinting at a role that combines commercial savvy, sporting authority, and global influence – a new frontier for the Briton who dominated the F1 paddock for two decades.
With Liberty Media owning both F1 and MotoGP, the transition is far from impossible, and it could allow Horner to craft a motorsport empire on two wheels rather than four.
Whether he will pursue this radical pivot or remain within the F1 ecosystem remains a tantalizing question for fans and insiders alike.
Alpine and Haas Rumours: Proceed With Caution
Horner’s name has also been linked to a potential return to F1 via Alpine, where he has connections with Flavio Briatore.
However, the Enstone squad hasn’t consistently produced race-winning machinery since their Lotus days of 2012-2013, and whether they would offer the autonomy or power Horner would demand remains doubtful.
Another avenue, floated by some sources, is Haas. The Daily Mail notes: “He would likely want equity in a team, rather than be prone to the whims of others. Haas, the American team, are mooted by some decent sources as a possible destination.”
Yet any discussion of Horner acquiring controlling equity in an F1 team must be taken with a pinch of salt. F1 outfits are valued at over $1 billion, meaning he would almost certainly require a significant investor to secure ownership, or a controlling interest.
Haas, while American-owned and recently partnered with Toyota, would still represent a considerable financial commitment.
As speculation over Horner’s future continues, one thing is certain: love him or loathe him, the Briton doesn’t do small. Wherever he lands, expect fireworks.
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