Following his departure from Red Bull, Christian Horner’s return to Formula 1 could already be gathering momentum, with Aston Martin reportedly reviving its interest in appointing the experienced team principal.
Reports suggest team owner Lawrence Stroll has once again reached out to Horner as the Silverstone-based outfit continues to reshape its leadership structure ahead of Formula 1’s new era.
TJ13 has since learned that Stroll Senior appears convinced it is necessary to remove Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey from his current role in an effort to allow the F1 design guru a chance to recover the fortunes of the failing F1 project.
Lawrence Stroll reportedly renews Aston Martin interest
According to the Daily Mail, Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll has recently contacted Horner to explore the possibility of bringing the 52-year-old to Silverstone as the team’s new principal.
The report claims this is not the first time Aston Martin has attempted to recruit Horner. Discussions reportedly took place several months ago but failed to produce an agreement.
One reported obstacle is Horner’s long-term ambitions. Rather than simply accepting a senior management role, the former Red Bull boss is believed to be seeking an ownership stake in whichever Formula 1 team he joins next. While neither Horner nor Aston Martin has publicly commented on the negotiations, that issue is thought to have complicated previous discussions.
Ferrari and Alpine remain linked with Horner
Aston Martin is not the only destination still being associated with Horner. The Daily Mail also reports that former Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has recommended Horner to Ferrari. However, there has so far been no indication that the Italian team is preparing to make a leadership change.
Meanwhile, Alpine continues to feature prominently in speculation surrounding Horner’s future.
The British former team boss has previously been linked with an investment-led move involving Alpine, with reports suggesting he explored acquiring the 24% stake in the team currently owned by investment firm Otro Capital.
However, Renault management is understood to have blocked those plans, preventing any immediate deal from progressing, for now. Despite that setback, the possibility of future discussions has reportedly not been ruled out.
Aston Martin continues leadership search alongside Adrian Newey
A move to Aston Martin would come as the team continues to strengthen its management structure around technical chief Adrian Newey.
Although Newey officially holds the title of managing technical partner and has wider responsibilities within the organisation, his primary focus remains factory-based development work at the team’s Silverstone headquarters rather than race weekend operations.
He has only attended a limited number of Grands Prix this season, with trackside responsibilities largely delegated to senior management.
Horner parachuted in to replace Newey?
While there remains confidence in the long-term project, there is increasing recognition that additional leadership support may be required to accelerate progress under Formula 1’s new regulations.
Given Adrian Newey’s long term illness impacting the recovery of the Aston Martin F1 project in 2026, the team principal role could very much do with being taken away from the legendary designer.
The Daily Mail report also notes speculation linking Horner with a potential future Chinese-backed Formula 1 project should the championship expand to 12 teams, although no official plans have been confirmed.
For now, Aston Martin appears to be the strongest active contender for Horner’s services, but with Ferrari, Alpine and other long-term opportunities still being discussed, the former Red Bull chief remains one of the most sought-after figures in the Formula 1 paddock.
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
