Christian Horner linked with shock Red Bull exit as 'approach made' by F1 rivals

Red Bull chief Christian Horner has been linked with a shock move to another F1 team that nobody would see coming.

After two decades with Red Bull racing, team principal Horner could be set for a shock move to another team on the Formula One grid.

The Brit has led the F1 team to eight Drivers’ Championships, six Constructors’ Championships, and over 120 Grand Prix wins with the likes of Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo.

Despite this, a new report has claimed that could be considering leaving his role and joining one of Red Bull's biggest rivals in a stunning move.

According to reports in the German media, F1 giants Ferrari have inquired about the availability of Horner as a potential replacement for current team principal Fred Vasseur.

Christian Horner has been linked with a shock move to Ferrari. (Image: Getty)

German outlet Bild have claimed that the Italian team have made an initial exploratory approach to Horner in recent weeks due to Ferrari's disappointing start to the season despite boasting perhaps the best driver lineup on the grid.

With both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc behind the wheel for Ferrari, expectations were high heading into the season, and yet after just eight Grand Prix weekends, both world titles already appear out of reach.

This has reportedly seriously unsettled the higher ups in Ferrari, who are demanding a major change in leadership ahead of what will be a highly-consequential 2026 season.

Fred Vasseur is facing mounting pressure at Ferrari. (Image: Getty)

However, even if the reports are true, it seems unlikely that Horner would turn his back on a team that has been the centre part of his entire career as a Formula One team principal.

Furthermore, with the 51-year-old under contract as Red Bull's team principal and CEO through 2030, the details of a deal would be extremely difficult.

Instead, it is much more likely that the potential conversations between Horner and Ferrari were much more casual rather than the start of any formal negotiations or a genuine prospect of departure, which is commonplace within the sport.

But should Ferrari continue to perform as poorly as they have done thus far, there is a serious chance that Vasseur will find himself out of a job before the start of next season.