Bernie Ecclestone is pushing Ferrari’s ‘top brass’ to appoint Christian Horner

Follow us on Google Discover

Red Bull sacked Christian Horner a year ago but he could soon return to the paddock, and former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone wants Ferrari to give his friend a way back.

Horner spent 20 years in charge of Red Bull, and he led the Milton Keynes-based outfit like a phoenix from the ashes of the ailing Jaguar team to vast success. Red Bull won eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ titles under the Briton, plus 124 out of their 130 Grand Prix wins.

Ultimately, declining results amid an internal fight for power saw Red Bull sack Horner mere days after the 2025 British Grand Prix. Horner received an £80m pay-off from Red Bull as his contract ran through 2030, and he agreed to a period of gardening leave through May 2026.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem expects to see Christian Horner return to F1. Which team would be his best landing spot?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Ferrari are resisting Bernie Ecclestone’s efforts to broker a move for Christian Horner

Now that Horner is free to join whatever team he chooses, a few options are on the table to return to the paddock. A report by the Daily Mail notes that Lawrence Stroll has approached Horner to join Aston Martin, but Alpine and Ferrari may be options, plus leading BYD’s entry.

READ MORE: Who is Christian Horner? Everything to know from Red Bull past to net worth

Chinese automotive giant BYD are exploring a potential F1 entry in the future, and have held ‘tentative’ talks with Horner about overseeing the team’s formation. However, joining BYD is likely to delay Horner’s return to the F1 paddock by, possibly, as much as another five years.

Horner has explored buying shares in Alpine, as well, as Otro Capital is looking to sell its 24% stake in the Enstone outfit. But with little progress in those talks, Ecclestone has reached out to the ‘top brass’ at Ferrari to try to ‘persuade’ the Scuderia to appoint Horner in Maranello.

So far, Ferrari have resisted Ecclestone’s quest to orchestrate a move for his friend Horner to take over. Fred Vasseur signed a new contract to remain Ferrari’s team principal through the 2027 season last July. It is also said that Vasseur’s Ferrari contract can be extended to 2028.

How many years would it take Christian Horner to win races with BYD?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Vasseur is also doing a fine job leading Ferrari at the start of the 2026 F1 regulations, with it not impossible that Lewis Hamilton could now fight Mercedes drivers Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell for the title. Ahead of the British GP, Hamilton sits third in the standings.

Recently, Hamilton won his first Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver in Barcelona, as well, but their difficulties at the Red Bull Ring then saw him finish P5 as Russell won the Austrian GP. Now, Antonelli leads Russell by 40 points atop the standings, while Hamilton is 46 points behind.

Also, Vasseur has changed the mentality at Ferrari’s factory to embrace more risks with the design of their updates, which has been fundamental for their early results this season. The Scuderia led the way with the flick tail mode blown exhaust concept that many of their rival teams have since copied, for example, and the FIA has even now banned the FTM for 2027.