Christian Horner wants to return to F1 but not just as team principal or so, more as a partner, as he affirms talks with teams.
Horner made his first comments in an official forum since his departure from Red Bull and F1, when he visited the European Motor Show on Sunday in Dublin. It was his second public appearance in last few days after he visited the FIA headquarters in Paris to meet President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
He has been in news ever since his departure from Red Bull. Just a week ago, he was confirmed to be part of the consortium, who are in talks with Otro Capital to acquire their shares. The company has ownership of Alpine F1 team and is looking to offload its stake since last year.
Alpine clarified that there is no direct contact between Horner and the French outfit or Flavio Briatore. In his mini speech, the Brit did not mention the names of any team, but joked of the media linking him to pretty much everyone on the grid, whether at the front of the field, in the middle or the back.
He was linked to Ferrari at one point and since then there are rumours about Aston Martin and Alpine. For now, Horner is not looking just at a team principal role. He has unfinished business in F1 and is eyeing a partner role with whomever he decides to sign up with.
“I feel like I have unfinished business in Formula 1,” said Horner, as per Sky Sports F1. “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. 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,” summed up Horner, who was also asked about his rivalry with Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff and how he sees it after their depiction on Netflix’s Drive to Survive series.
“A lot of people made a lot out of the rivalry I had with him. I have a huge amount of respect for him,” continued Horner. “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.”
Here’s Alpine clarifying things
