Christian Horner's Staggering Ferrari Wage 'Demands' Revealed Amid Talks

Christian Horner's reported wage demands have been revealed amid claims that Ferrari are 'focused' on signing him as team principal.

Horner has been out of work since being sacked from his dual roles as Red Bull CEO and team principal in July.

He subsequently agreed a reported £50 million pay-off - though some sources have claimed it is £82 million - in order to return.

Veteran F1 journalist Ralf Bach claimed last week that Ferrari chairman John Elkann is 'focused' on signing Horner as team principal, with current chief Frederic Vasseur said to be under pressure despite recently agreeing a contract extension.

Horner's move to Ferrari would be one of the stories of 2026, and would see him work alongside drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc for the first time.

Hamilton first met Horner in around 2004 when he was in GP3 (now F3) and, although they largely haven't been on the best of terms since then, did hold talks in 2011 about a potential move to Red Bull for the future seven-time world champion.

If Horner was to join Ferrari, he would be one of the highest-paid team principals on the grid.

According to journalist Roberto Chincero, the 51-year-old would want a salary 'two and a half times' more than Vasseur, who is reported to earn $7 million per year.

"This is the will, I don't think he should arrive at Maranello with carte blanche," he told Motorsport.com Italia.

"A very long contract, overpaid, because I don't think he's willing to earn less than he earned at Red Bull.

"And we're talking about a salary, probably two and a half times the salary of Vasseur now and [previous Ferrari team principal, Mattia] Binotto before.

"A change would be a big change. I mean, giving the keys to what was called sports management, a bit like [Jean] Todt's keys. 'This is the contract, see you in five years', and draw a line. But this is not the Ferrari of today, where there is the CEO, there is the president, it's a bit more complex as a scenario."