Christian Horner return to F1 possible with 12th team

Horner’s options for an F1 comeback

In the aftermath of Horner being replaced at Red Bull, there has been speculation about his next F1 chapter. After his severance deal with Red Bull was confirmed last week, it clarified the timeline for a potential return.

The former team principal is already known to be exploring his options for the future. These include joining existing teams, but also – as reported by The Race – potentially entering a 12th team.

Assessing the existing outfits on the grid, Horner has been linked with several. Alpine are often floated as a potential destination for the 51-year-old, given the frequency at which they have changed and replaced team principals in recent years.

Some have hypothesised that Horner would be an option that Alpine could rely upon for the long-term. With that said, a closer examination makes a move to the Enstone team seem less practical.

Although he isn’t technically team principal, Flavio Briatore is the biggest decision maker at Alpine. With the team already committing to a series of changes (such as abandoning their engine manufacturer status) it seems unclear Horner would gravitate to their project.

A team with more resources and proven commitment to investing in modern facilities, like Aston Matin, could be a more exciting proposition. Of course, the Silverstone-based team has its own barriers to entry.

Arguably the most relevant is the volume of senior personnel already at the team. Andy Cowell (CEO and team principal), Adrian Newey (Managing Technical Partner) and Enrico Cardile (Chief Technical Officer) have all been incorporated over the last twelve months or so.

The addition of another big name seems somewhat redundant, especially since Aston are already in a delicate transitional period. Moreover, Adrian Newey’s Red Bull departure is often described as being at least partly motivated by a breakdown in his relationship with Horner.

A 12th team?

Without vacancies at the top teams, an alternative route back to Formula 1 is entering with a 12th team. Horner is uniquely positioned to put together a credible project and add another outfit to the sport.

His time at Red Bull, especially in the early years, gives him a clear idea of what it takes to build a team from scratch. Acquiring sponsors, partners and convincing engineers to join the project should also be easier for Horner than most. Roughly 20 years in F1 will inevitably create an extensive list of connections.

Taking into consideration the constantly growing value of F1 teams, creating one from scratch is a logical investment. As a title-winning team principal, a project of this magnitude might be necessary to justify a comeback.

As Cadillac found out, getting the green light to join the grid is no easy process. However, getting a big manufacturer involved in the project has proven a game-changer in the entry process.

Whilst nothing is clear at this stage, it should not be a surprise to see Horner investigate his options over the coming months. Other former team principals, such as Otmar Szafnauer, have been in talks with investors about their own projects for a 12th team. Horner could certainly do the same – though perhaps with greater chances of success.