Christian Horner told Lawrence Stroll’s stance on selling a stake in Aston Martin amid comeback rumours

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Christian Horner has been linked with Aston Martin as he eyes a return to the Formula 1 grid. It’s believed that Horner wants to buy a stake in the team, rather than replicating the role he had at Red Bull.

Having finalised his departure from Red Bull, Horner can return to F1 in spring 2026. Aston Martin look at this stage like an attractive proposition.

While they haven’t won a race since their 2021 rebrand, they are well-positioned to do so under the new rules. Horner’s former colleague Adrian Newey headlines a dazzling recruitment drive that has also seen Mercedes engine guru Andy Cowell and Ferrari technical director Enrico Cardile arrive.

With an exclusive Honda engine deal, hundreds of millions of investment and a two-time world champion who’s still performing at an elite level, Aston Martin appear to have everything they need to end their victory drought. But perhaps bringing Horner into the fold would make them legitimate title contenders.

Lawrence Stroll is prioritising finding investors amid Christian Horner links

According to The Race, Horner currently has three main routes back into F1. He could invest in either Alpine or Aston Martin, or take the radical third step of setting up his own squad.

Crucially, ‘it has been suggested’ that Horner already has ‘financial backers’ in place. While his Red Bull pay-off was extremely lucrative, he alone doesn’t have the assets required to buy a significant stake.

• READ MORE: Christian Horner joining £1.2bn-valued F1 team ‘hard to imagine’ due to Toto Wolff rivalry

For instance, Aston Martin recently sold shares in the team for £110m, valuing their entire operation at £2.4bn in the process.

Lawrence Stroll has made it a priority to find more investors who can ‘carry the team forward’ to a championship-winning level. Horner faces competition from ‘other interested parties’ if he makes an offer.

How signing Christian Horner could cost Aston Martin Max Verstappen

Horner wouldn’t take on a ‘straight management role’ at Silverstone. Cowell is the team principal and Stroll has no intention of amending that structure.

Newey was given shares in the team when he became managing technical partner last year.

Horner and Newey maintain a close relationship, even though they did drift apart during the final stages of the latter’s Red Bull career. A reunion appears workable.

However, Aston Martin may not be able to sign Max Verstappen if Horner arrives. The world champion’s father was at odds with the 51-year-old, which may have contributed to the change of leadership.