Christian Horner given ‘intriguing’ Racing Bulls takeover opportunity by 2029 regulation change

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Former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner is exploring a way to re-enter Formula 1 after leaving the sport last year.

Christian Horner left his role as team principal of Red Bull after the 2025 British Grand Prix following 20 years in charge.

However, that doesn’t appear to have dampened his spirits when it comes to trying his luck again in the paddock.

Horner is interested in investing in Alpine, but a move is being complicated by the current owners, Renault, and their stance on selling.

F1 Oversteer has exclusively spoken to experts on the impact of Alpine shareholders selling to Horner, but another opportunity to re-join the grid could emerge in a few years.

Journalist Mark Hughes has been speaking about a potential Horner comeback and the role his old team, Red Bull, could play in that.

A potential rule change arriving in 2029 may offer Horner and other investors looking to get into Formula 1, the chance to purchase sister team Racing Bulls.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

Christian Horner could have an ‘intriguing possibility’ to buy Racing Bulls from Red Bull

Hughes was speaking on the Motor Sport Magazine about Horner’s future and explained: “There is another intriguing possibility [for Christian Horner]. There is a regulation coming in, I think in three years’ time, whereby an owner can’t have two teams.

“Which means that Red Bull, somewhere down the line, is going to have to sell the Racing Bulls team.

“So yeah, that’s another possibility. But whether Red Bull would sell to Christian, that’s got a potential irony, hasn’t it, if that ends up happening.

“I mean, if they don’t want to sell them that team, I suppose they could sell them the main team, but I can’t see that ever happening!”

READ MORE: All to know about Racing Bulls from team principal to Red Bull affiliation

Racing Bulls would offer Christian Horner the perfect opportunity to return to Formula 1

There are plenty of reasons why Horner trying to get back into the F1 paddock with Alpine makes a lot of sense.

The team are at their lowest ebb after finishing bottom of the constructors’ championship last year, and the revolving door of team principals they’ve had over the past few seasons means that they’re crying out for some stability.

However, Horner cannot return to F1 immediately due to the terms of his Red Bull exit, and by the time he has any say in the direction of the team, it will already be obvious where they fit into the pecking order of the new regulations.

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If he waited until 2029, when a potential rule change could see Red Bull forced to change the ownership structure of Racing Bulls, then the next regulations would still be on the horizon.

Horner would know the structure of Racing Bulls very well from his time at Red Bull, and so could immediately identify what needs improvement.

Not only that, but he would then have the flexibility to pursue a power unit deal with any manufacturer he would like.

Whether Horner is willing to be that patient, and whether, as Hughes suggests, Red Bull are willing to negotiate with him in the future, is another matter entirely.