Christian Horner’s departure from Red Bull Racing has sent ripples through the Formula 1 world, ending two decades of leadership at Milton Keynes. As the team embraces a new phase with Laurent Mekies assuming the CEO and team principal roles, speculation about Horner’s future has intensified. While rumors linked him to Ferrari, insights from former Red Bull driver Karun Chandhok suggest a different trajectory for Christian Horner F1 next destination.
Why Ferrari May Not Be Horner’s Next Stop
Scuderia Ferrari has reportedly considered Christian Horner for several years, previously approaching him to succeed Mattia Binotto. Those discussions, however, did not materialize as Fred Vasseur took up the team principal position instead. Currently, murmurs about dissatisfaction with Vasseur’s leadership have rekindled thoughts of another Horner appointment at Maranello. Despite this, Chandhok argues that the scenario is unlikely without Adrian Newey joining as well, a combination that would strengthen Ferrari’s appeal but remains improbable at this stage.
“I do think a combination of Christian and Newey to Ferrari was a much more attractive package for Ferrari. To me, I could see him landing at Alpine more than I can see him landing at Ferrari now. I think Ferrari are going to try and build their own thing.”
—Karun Chandhok, Former Red Bull Driver
Chandhok emphasizes that Ferrari is focused on developing its own leadership path, making a switch to Horner less feasible this year. Instead, Alpine emerges as a more plausible option for the British team principal, aligning better with the team’s current direction and needs.
Alpine Offers a Convenient and Strategic Choice
Chandhok also noted the practical advantages for Horner in joining Alpine. Based at Enstone, the French team’s headquarters would allow Horner to stay in Britain, sparing him a relocation to Italy, which Ferrari would require.
“The commute to Enstone is pretty much going to be the same as the commute to Milton Keynes.”
—Karun Chandhok
Alpine itself is in the midst of considerable change, having undergone several leadership shifts recently. Flavio Briatore is currently serving as interim team principal after Oliver Oakes’ departure, marking another chapter of instability. The team is currently positioned at the lower end of the 2024 standings, highlighting the urgent need for renewal, particularly ahead of the significant 2026 regulation changes. Alpine’s plan to switch to customer power units next season to reduce costs also signals a strategic reset that could benefit from Horner’s experience.
Behind the Scenes at Alpine Ahead of Possible Horner Arrival
Alpine requires fresh leadership and vision, and Briatore’s role as a temporary team principal leaves room for new appointments. Chiranjiv Karun Chandhok suggested that Alpine’s management is actively preparing to offer Horner a role, supported by the presence of Steve Nielsen as managing director, who handles day-to-day operations.
“Flavio doesn’t want to be team principal. He’s got Steve Nielsen there as the MD. But I can imagine there’s a few wheels and cogs being turned in the backgrounds, for Christian to at least have a role there.”
—Karun Chandhok
Chandhok also highlighted Horner’s longstanding connections within F1, pointing out his relationship with Bernie Ecclestone, who played a pivotal role in Horner’s Red Bull appointment in 2005. Briatore, likewise, is a close friend of Ecclestone, potentially easing Horner’s integration at Alpine.
“And of course, he and Flavio, both very old friends of Bernie Ecclestone. Bernie brought Christian to F1 when Red Bull bought the team. He was instrumental in Christian getting that job, back in 2005.”
—Karun Chandhok
Challenges Await Despite the Appeal of Alpine
Although the prospect of Horner leading Alpine sounds promising on paper, practical challenges exist. Horner is accustomed to commanding nearly full control over racing operations, a scenario difficult to replicate within Alpine’s current leadership structure under Briatore. Unlike his previous dynamic with Dr. Helmut Marko at Red Bull, Horner would likely have to navigate shared authority, which may limit his autonomy.
Nevertheless, Alpine stands at a crossroads, needing a clear direction as new technical regulations approach. Bringing in an experienced figure like Horner could provide stability and inject much-needed expertise, especially as the team prepares to adopt new power unit strategies and rebuild its standing in the championship.
Christian Horner’s next move will be pivotal, not only for his own career post-Red Bull but also for the future landscape of Formula 1 team leadership. With Ferrari unlikely, and Alpine emerging as a leading candidate, the coming months will be critical in shaping how the former team principal influences the sport’s evolving competitive environment.
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