Christian Horner has already been meeting Formula 1 team chief for lunch amid comeback rumours

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Christian Horner saw another route back to Formula 1 blocked this week. Cadillac publicly stated that they wouldn’t hold talks with the sacked Red Bull boss.

This comes after Ferrari agreed a new contract with Fred Vasseur, ending any speculation that Horner could move to Maranello. McLaren and Mercedes were never realistic destinations.

In the midfield, Williams have extended James Vowles’ deal, and Audi have only just set up their Mattia Binotto/Jonathan Wheatley tandem. The Haas operation may not be large enough to attract a figure like Horner.

The Englishman oversaw eight title-winning seasons in 20 years at Red Bull. But for now at least, there appear to be very few viable suitors.

Christian Horner’s conversations with Alpine boss Flavio Briatore emerge

Alpine looks like Horner’s likeliest destination right now, and Red Bull insider Matt Majendie has shared an update on the developing story. Horner has a strong relationship with Flavio Briatore, who’s the de facto team boss at Enstone.

While Ralf Schumacher says Briatore’s time is ‘over’, Majendie can envisage the two working together. They have apparently met for lunch on multiple occasions.

The suspicion is that ‘conversations have turned’ to a potential collaboration at Alpine, who are currently bottom of the standings but will combine a Mercedes engine with Renault’s resources from next year.

Horner could buy a stake in Alpine rather than taking on the same role he occupied at Red Bull. The team have only recently appointed Steve Nielsen as managing director.

“I’ve always said from the outset that the one that makes the most sense is Alpine, and I continue to stand by that,” Majendie commented on the Inside Track podcast. “It’s not so fanciful the idea of Horner and Briatore working together, they’re very good friends.

“I don’t know if anyone remembers the sit-down interview we did with Horner way back when, his last big interview before he was removed from his role as team principal and CEO. He essentially said Flavio is his best mate of the team bosses.

“It’s an unlikely friendship in a way, but they’ve both got a wicked sense of humour, they don’t mind rubbing people up the wrong way and actually, they would work well together.

“I know they’ve met up a few times, had lunch and you would imagine conversations have turned to how they could perhaps work together in the future.

“I’d heard something that Horner has financial backing from elsewhere to potentially buy in or take over a team. Alpine are owned by Renault, and Renault have always said that the Formula 1 team are not up for sale, and yet the rumours of a possible sale of Alpine have never gone away.

“There’s a possibility that, at some point, Horner could lead a buy-in, because I think that’s what he would like to do, to be an overarching boss.”

The truth about Christian Horner’s relationship with Adrian Newey

Majendie also considered whether Aston Martin are a contender for Horner. They recently gave Adrian Newey, his former right-hand man, shares in the team when they appointed him as managing technical partner.

That arrangement could appeal to Horner, but team owner Lawrence Stroll may be wary of ‘giving up control’.

Newey’s relationship with Horner reportedly suffered in his final months at Red Bull, but they appear to be on good terms again. They even attended a concert together recently.

“One that I quite like still is the whole Aston Martin idea,” said Majendie. “I love the fact that Adrian Newey and Christian Horner went to an Oasis gig the other day, supposedly this frayed relationship over the last year with all the tensions and different issues within the team, but that would indicate otherwise.

“They’re mates, and I think they’ve spoken and met up quite a lot. I don’t know whether Lawrence Stroll would want to give up any stake in that team or to give up control to someone like Horner.”