Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner has officially severed ties with the Milton Keynes-based team, bringing to a close a chapter that began in 2005 and reshaped the landscape of modern Formula One. The announcement was made on 22 September 2025, marking the end of his two-decade tenure during which Red Bull evolved from newcomers into consistent championship winners. However, within 24 hours of the news breaking, rumours were already circulating about where the Briton might end up next.
According to reports in the English press, Horner has no intention of staying away from the sport for long. His settlement with Red Bull stipulates a nine-month period of enforced absence, yet sources close to the 51-year-old suggest that plans for a comeback in 2026 are already being put into motion.
Exactly where Horner will reappear is the subject of fevered speculation, with potential destinations ranging from Alpine to the prospective Cadillac operation. The Daily Mail has now suggested that Haas, the only American-flagged team on the grid, could be the most likely destination, this, however might well be speculation that is barking up the wrong proverbial tree as we will reveal later on.
Severance terms and a swift return
The financial details of Horner’s departure remain contested in the British media. Some reports claim a figure in the region of 60 million euros, while others suggest the sum could be as high as 90 million. What does appear consistent across the coverage is that Horner was prepared to sacrifice some of his entitlements in order to return to Formula One sooner. By waiving additional compensation, he avoided restrictions that might otherwise have delayed his return until the latter part of the decade.
According to sources briefed on the matter, Horner’s settlement leaves him free to pursue new opportunities once the mandatory nine-month gardening leave period has expired. While money will not be an immediate concern following his exit package, there is a sense that Horner has no desire to fade quietly into retirement. Colleagues describe him as a workaholic who thrives on the relentless demands of Formula One. Sitting on the sidelines is not an option he is willing to consider.
Could Haas be the destination?
The link between Horner and Haas comes as something of a surprise, yet there is a logic to the speculation. Unlike Alpine, which remains under the Renault umbrella, and Cadillac, which is still awaiting regulatory approval for entry, Haas is a relatively independent entity that has, at times, appeared to lack clear direction. With owner Gene Haas historically more focused on his NASCAR interests, there could be opportunities for an ambitious figure such as Horner to acquire a significant stake.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, such a move would allow Horner to emulate Toto Wolff at Mercedes, where the Austrian holds both a shareholding and the position of team principal. This dual authority is said to appeal to Horner, who has often clashed with Red Bull’s wider corporate management in Salzburg. By positioning himself as both investor and decision-maker, Horner could achieve a level of control that eluded him in his final years at Milton Keynes.
Strategic timing would align neatly with the sport’s upcoming regulatory reset in 2026
Any potential Haas deal would align neatly with the sport’s upcoming regulatory reset in 2026. That season will introduce new power unit regulations and revised aerodynamic rules, creating a natural break point at which teams can either capitalise on fresh opportunities or fall behind. For an incoming leader, this represents an opportunity to influence long-term development from the outset.
Currently, Haas relies on Ferrari for power units and technical support, but this has not translated into sustained competitiveness. Should Horner secure backing for a stake in the team, one of his initial priorities could be to reassess such arrangements. His extensive connections across the paddock, forged during his 20-year tenure at Red Bull, could facilitate negotiations with alternative suppliers or partners.
However, Cadillac, rather than Haas, might offer Horner a clearer route to ownership.
Horner set to move to Cadillac with astonishing Red Bull payout
Haas F1 off the table?
Many would be surprised by the suggestion that Christian Horner could buy into Haas. After all, if there is one thing Gene Haas has made abundantly clear during his time in Formula 1, it is that he owns his team outright.
The story of Guenther Steiner is instructive here. The Italian spent eight years as team principal, becoming something of a cult figure thanks to Netflix, and helped turn Gene’s cheque book and a dream into an actual Formula One entry. He secured the Ferrari partnership, recruited staff and sponsors, and delivered some memorable points finishes for a midfield team with limited funding. If anyone could make a case for a share of the team, it was Steiner.
However, when he pushed for equity, Haas closed the door. Reports suggest that Steiner had lined up a substantial sponsor deal worth around 20 million dollars, but his request for ownership fell on deaf ears.
Gene Haas, it seems, sees Formula 1 not as a joint venture, but as his own private toy chest. In his eyes, Haas F1 is not up for negotiation. The result? A ‘shock’ split at the start of 2024, when Guenther was abruptly dismissed. This would only be shocking if one had not been paying attention to the iron grip Gene keeps on the keys to his kingdom.
Cadillac equity a better prospect
If Horner truly wants to ‘be his own boss’, as the reports claim, then Haas hardly seems the obvious choice. Gene’s track record suggests that he would rather run his team into the midfield wilderness than allow another hand on the tiller. Asking for shares at Haas has already cost one team principal their job, so it would be bold, if not reckless, for Horner to attempt the same.
Cadillac, by contrast, offers something Haas never will: a blanker canvas. The prospective American entrant is still shaping its Formula One project and does not have the same entrenched ownership issues. Backed by General Motors, Cadillac brings manufacturer money, infrastructure and ambition. Crucially, however, it does not yet have a defined leadership culture. If Horner wants to bargain for equity, Cadillac represents fertile ground. A stake there would give him influence from day one rather than forcing him to spend years trying to wrestle control from an owner who is reluctant to share.
The cloud over Horner’s Red Bull exit
His achievements at Red Bull are undeniable, with six drivers’ championships and multiple constructors’ titles under his belt. However, Horner’s departure was not without controversy. Allegations of inappropriate conduct towards a female employee, coupled with internal power struggles over the scope of his authority, ultimately weakened his position. Although Red Bull chose not to disclose all the findings of its internal investigation, the outcome was decisive enough to bring his tenure to an end.
Horner’s supporters argue that he fell victim to corporate politics, with his push for greater control over the future of Red Bull Racing clashing with the interests of Red Bull GmbH’s leadership. However, detractors counter that his management style, often described as uncompromising, created divisions that made his continued employment untenable. Whatever the truth, the official settlement has now brought the saga to a close, allowing both parties to move on.
Waiting for the nine-month clock to tick
Until his gardening leave expires, Horner will be an interested observer rather than an active participant. The coming months may reveal whether the rumours surrounding Haas solidify into negotiations or if another opportunity will emerge from the ever-shifting sands of Formula One politics. What seems certain is that Horner does not regard his involvement in the sport as over. His ambition to return to the paddock ‘as soon as possible’ suggests that fans will not have to wait long to find out where he will resurface.
For Formula One itself, Horner’s return would guarantee another layer of intrigue. His sharp tongue, strategic acumen, and willingness to confront rivals have been central to the sport’s drama for two decades. Whether he is aligned with Haas or another team, his presence promises to inject energy into the battles ahead.
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It was a sad day when CH was ousted. The problems really seemed to stem from the death of DM … so what does that say about the two now ‘running the show’? Power crazed?
I personally look forward to CH being back in the paddock and chatting with the pundits – and elevating the performance of whichever team he joins
I can’t see Horner being part of Cadillac F1 for a number of reasons:
1) Cadillac already has a team principal in Graeme Lowdon,
2) Cadillac also have a CEO and chief equity stake in Dan Towriss and his Group 1001 holdings,
3) Quite a few former Red Bull Racing employees now work for Cadillac including the woman who was at the center of Horner’s sexual harassment scandal,
And 4) Cadillac have already shot down the idea bringing Horner on to Cadillac.
The fact that this whole Horner to Cadillac rumor got any traction, even though it had no basis in actuality, boggles the mind.