Christian Horner could make shock return to F1 with Red Bull's rivals after brutal sacking and have very frosty reunion
Published: Invalid Date,
CHRISTIAN HORNER is jobless for the first time since 2004 after his brutal Red Bull sacking last week.
The 51-year-old is now twidling his thumbs on gardening leave for the rest of the year.
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And Horner and will be weighing up his options from January 2026 onwards.
Rumours have been swirling around over the Brit's potential destinations - including a shock move to Ferrari.
Reports in Italian and German media begun claiming in May that Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur's position is under threat.
Vasseur hit out at the reports and said they were "disrespectful" and "very harsh".
But German outlet BILD has added fuel to the fire, claiming that Ferrari had made "informal" contact with Horner.
Horner dismissed the report - but speculation will continue to grow as the weeks go by with him sitting on the sidelines.
Come the Belgian Grand Prix later this month, Horner will be missing from the F1 paddock for the first time in nearly 21 years.
And Horner, who won six constructors' championships and eight drivers' titles with Red Bull, will no doubt be getting itchy feet soon.
If Horner did pen an unlikely move at Ferrari it would see him form a wild pairing with his old rival, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton has a Ferrari contract until at least the end of 2026 and is already a huge voice within the Italian team.
It is likely he would not be impressed if Horner replaced Vasseur, given he is a big fan of the Frenchman and has thrown his support behind him in public.
When Vasseur's future was under speculation, Hamilton said: "I love working with Fred – Fred's the main reason I'm in this team and got the opportunity to be here, for which I'm forever grateful for, and we're in this together.
'We're working hard in the background, things aren't perfect but, for me, I'm here to work with the team but also with Fred.
"I want Fred here. I do believe Fred is the person to take us to the top, so that's that. So it's all nonsense."
Bad blood
Hamilton took a strong take on Horner's alleged 'inappropriate behaviour' with a female colleague last year.
The ex-Red Bull boss was twice cleared from it by an independent investigation but Hamilton said it was "hanging over the sport" and said the outcome was "important for the future of F1".
He also hit out at Horner in 2023 for "stirring" when he claimed Hamilton tried to join his team after leaving Mercedes.
At the time Horner said that a member of Hamilton's team had been in touch over a possible switch to Red Bull earlier in the year.
Hamilton rebuffed it and said Horner had actually been the one to text him and try set up a meeting.
Obviously there was bad blood going back between the two during Hamilton and Max Verstappen's fierce and controversial title fight in 2021 which reached its crescendo in the contentious season finale in Abu Dhabi.
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Hamilton changed his tune
Recently, with Horner still at Red bull, Hamilton admitted he regretted referring to Red Bull as a "drinks company" in 2011.
His comments suggested that he is previous beef with Horner was water under the bridge.
At Silverstone he said: "Many, many years ago, I remember saying something about Red Bull being only a drinks company.
'I always regretted it because I was just saying that Mercedes at the time were great.
"I was really just trying to gee up my team. But the truth is, Red Bull have been an incredible team. There are so many people there that are exceptional and they've dominated for years.'
Horner makes his feelings on Hamilton known
It feels like Horner would have no qualms working with the British 40-year-old, who he has praised in public this season.
Speaking earlier in the year, Horner said of Hamilton's Ferrari move: "I've seen some pictures, I think it [Ferrari red] suits him.
"It's great for Formula 1. Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari – that really is box office.
"I think it's just another dynamic for this year that could be super exciting."
Back in 2023, Horner was asked whether he would sign Hamilton for Red Bull.
He replied: "What Lewis has achieved in F1 is second to none, but we're very happy with the drivers that we have – they're committed as a pair for not only this season but the next season as well.
"I can't see where we would be able to accommodate Lewis, but I'm sure they're [Mercedes] going to sort their issues out and we're certainly not writing him off yet."
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