Christian Horner has 'unfinished business' in F1 after Red Bull sacking - but will only return if he can win
Christian Horner part of consortium interested in purchasing a minority stake in Alpine; 52-year-old was sacked by Red Bull last year but can return to F1 from this spring; Horner opens up on rivalry with Mercedes' Toto Wolff, suggesting it would be boring if everyone was "nicey-nicey"
Saturday 31 January 2026 18:39, UK
Christian Horner said he has "unfinished business" in Formula 1 and "misses" the sport but will only come back to win as he spoke for the first time since his sacking by Red Bull last year.
The 52-year-old is eligible to return to the paddock from this spring, with Alpine revealing last week he is part of a consortium interested in purchasing a minority stake in the team.
During his two-decade spell as Red Bull team principal, Horner presided over eight drivers' world championships and six constructors' titles.
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Talking at the European Motor Show in Dublin on Saturday, he said: "I feel like I have unfinished business in Formula 1. It didn't finish the way that I would have liked it to finish.
"But I am not going to come back for just anything. I am only going to come back for something that can win.
"I don't want to go back in the paddock unless I have something to do. I miss the sport, I miss the people, I miss the team that I built.
"I had 21 incredible years in Formula 1. I had a great run, won a lot of races, championships and worked with some amazing drivers, engineers and partners.
"I don't need to go back. I could stop my career now. So I would only go back for the right opportunity to work with great people, and to work in an environment where people want to win, and they shared that desire.
"I would want to be a partner, rather than just a hired hand, but we will see how it plays out. I am not in a rush. I don't need to do anything."
Horner 'flattered' with links to other teams
On the interest in Alpine, and being linked with Ferrari and Aston Martin, Horner added: "What has been fascinating is that this is the first time I have actually spoken to anyone [since leaving Red Bull].
"[In the media] I think I have been going to every single team, which has ranged from the back of the grid, to the middle of the grid, and to the front of the grid.
"There just seems to be an appetite as to: 'What am I going to do? Where am I going to go?' The reality is that until the spring I can't do anything anyway.
"It is very flattering to keep being associated with all of these different teams."
'Wolff and I are just different people'
When asked about his sometimes stormy relationship with Mercedes CEO and co-owner Toto Wolff during his Red Bull tenure, Horner said: "A lot of people made a lot out of the rivalry I had with him. I have a huge amount of respect for him.
"He has been tremendously successful. He has won a huge amount. He is very bright.
"We are just different people, equally competitive, just different. And sport is boring if everybody is friendly and loves each other.
"You have got to have a rivalry that will create a real interest. The worst thing is if everyone is too nicey-nicey and chummy."
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