Flavio Briatore reacts to Christian Horner’s Red Bull exit amid links to Alpine F1 role

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Messages are beginning to pour in from around the world of Formula 1 after news broke on Wednesday that Red Bull Racing have parted ways with Christian Horner.

Christian Horner was the team principal of Red Bull since their debut in Formula 1 in 2005.

In that time, Red Bull won 14 championships, including eight drivers’ championships courtesy of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, and six further team titles.

However, Red Bull’s dominance over the rest of the field started to slip last season, with McLaren and Ferrari overtaking them by the end of the campaign.

Several key personnel, including Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley and Rob Marshall, have all recently departed, weakening Horner’s senior backroom staff.

Verstappen’s camp have question marks over Pierre Wache, one of Horner’s most important allies on the pit wall this season, and falling to fourth in the standings was ultimately too much for Red Bull’s owners to bear.

Alpine chief Flavio Briatore was one of the first people to react to Horner’s Red Bull exit.

He’s congratulated the 51-year-old on the brilliant tenure he had in charge of the team, which has set some of Alpine’s fans’ tongues wagging.

READ MORE: Know all about Red Bull team principal Christian Horner with net worth to wife

Flavio Briatore sends message to Christian Horner after Red Bull sacking

Posting on Instagram after the news broke, Briatore said: “20 years at the top says it all. A competitor on the track, but also a friend off [the] track.

“Well done on your achievements @christianhorner at @redbullracing, and wishing you all the best on your next adventure. Forza Christian!”

This led to plenty of fans reacting to Briatore’s message and wanting him to bring Horner in as team principal at Alpine, a role he’s been linked with as per Motorsport.

One message read: “What a great Godfather!!! It would be great if you took him to Alpine!!!. So between the two [of you], you take care of Franco and train him as an elite driver.”

Another fan said: “Flavio, bring him to Alpine!” while one comment suggested: “Flavio knows Christian’s next adventure and it is working with him at Alpine.”

“We believe he is the next Alpine Team Principal,” read another comment, while one fan said: “Take Christian to Enstone and see the points come back right away.”

“Christian Horner, we are waiting for you in Alpine,” wrote another fan, and although Steve Nielsen has just arrived at Enstone, it might be hard for Briatore to turn down working with Horner if the opportunity arises.

READ MORE: Who is Alpine’s F1 executive adviser Flavio Briatore? Everything to know

Shareholder role at Alpine suggested for Christian Horner after Red Bull exit

It has to be remembered what level Red Bull were at when Horner took over in 2005 after the buyout of the Jaguar F1 team.

They were a midfield team bought for a pound by an energy drinks company that have become multiple world champions under Horner’s tenure.

Journalist Christian Nimmervoll was discussing the future roles Horner could look for in the paddock, with Ferrari and Alpine both mentioned.

The journalist explained on the Autosport Podcast: “I agree with Ben [Hunt] about the Alpine option, the only difference to the Ferrari one would be, I think that with Alpine, probably Christian would be enticed to do it as a minority shareholder.

“We cannot oversee the fact that Christian has quite a bit of wealth, also thanks to Red Bull, deservedly so because he delivered.

“So, I think if he goes to Alpine, that might be as a shareholder because we know in the past, he has had ambitions to go one step further than just team principal.”

It will be fascinating to see what Horner’s next steps are after leaving Red Bull.

Verstappen has reacted to Horner’s exit, and now all eyes are on whether that decision from the senior Red Bull hierarchy will see him remain at the Anglo-Austrian team or head off to pastures new.