Christian Horner must do something he’s not done in 21 years to take surprise F1 role

Christian Horner will have to agree to do something he never had to do during 20 years at Red Bull to return to a specific F1 team principal role.

Horner, 52, has been away from Formula 1 since he was removed as team principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing in July 2025.

Red Bull reportedly reached a settlement with Horner worth around £52 million, as his contract still had five years left to run.

That settlement allowed him to return to Formula 1 from the beginning of 2026 - and he has been linked with no shortage of roles.

Horner is said to be interested in investing in the Alpine team and become its team principal, while he has also been linked with the soon-to-be vacant team principal role at Aston Martin once Adrian Newey steps back from his duties.

But another opening has presented itself in recent days, with his former Red Bull colleague Jonathan Wheatley stepping down from his identical role at Audi.

In a statement, Audi cited 'personal reasons' as being behind Wheatley's departure.

Significantly, the team's main chassis base is in Hinwil, Switzerland, with Formula 1's official website noting that the offices of both Wheatley and engine supremo Mattia Binotto 'sat adjacent to each other ... with a joining door that Wheatley [said] was more often open than closed'.

The team, operating under its previous Sauber name, opened a new Technology Centre in the UK last year.

Jonathan Wheatley and Mattia Binotto (pictured) worked closely together at Audi (Image: Getty)

But if Horner were to take charge at Audi, he would doubtless have to spend at least some time in Switzerland between certain Grands Prix, as Wheatley did.

Audi and Sauber have had issues recruiting key staff for that specific reason, as many have to relocate to the European country to work for the team.

Horner, meanwhile, was based at Red Bull's Milton Keynes headquarters during his 20-year stint in charge of the team.

He and wife Geri Halliwell currently live in a mansion in the village of Marston Saint Lawrence, near Banbury.

Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle visited the mansion for a feature on Horner during Red Bull's spell of dominance between 2021 and 2024.

And the Daily Mail report that Horner turned down 'overtures' to star in a 'spin-off show' based on himself and former Spice Girls star Halliwell.

The 52-year-old has said that he 'doesn't need to go back' to Formula 1, but has 'unfinished business' in the sport.

During an appearance at the European Motor Show last month, he said: "It didn't finish the way that I would have liked it to finish [at Red Bull].

"But I am not going to come back for just anything. I am only going to come back for something that can win.

"I don't want to go to the paddock unless I have something to do. I miss the sport, I miss the people, I miss the team that I built. I had 21 incredible years in Formula 1.

"I don't need to go back. I could stop my career now. So I would only go back for the right opportunity to work with great people, and to work in an environment where people want to win, and they shared that desire.

"I would want to be a partner, rather than just a hired hand, but we will see how it plays out. I am not in a rush."