One F1 team must u-turn on their Christian Horner stance as ‘falling down’ factory issues emerge

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Christian Horner has been speaking to several Formula 1 teams as he plans his return to the paddock in 2026 after leaving Red Bull.

The 51-year-old was relieved of all duties at the Milton Keynes outfit in September after Red Bull paid Horner £80m to terminate his contract, which ran until 2030.

With Horner free to return to F1 in 2026, he is looking to take on an ownership role in another team. He has already been speaking to several potential candidates, but many have shut the door on him.

Alpine are not currently interested in Horner, having been strongly linked to the former Red Bull boss with his close relationship with Flavio Briatore. Aston Martin are also not plotting a move for Horner, with the Brit keen to have a stake in the next team he joins.

Horner could set up his own F1 team, with the sport allowing for 12 teams to be on the grid. It would be a costly project to try to find sponsors and even get approval, but Horner’s marketing expertise at Red Bull may make it an attractive option.

Haas are not interested in a sale, having previously been linked with Horner. However, the latest information coming out of the team may make them want to rethink their stance on the 51-year-old.

Haas’ Formula 1 factory is ‘falling down’ amid financial difficulties

Guenther Steiner thinks Haas cannot afford Horner and will not be able to dish out a significant fee to bring him on board. That would not be surprising, given that they are, statistically, the smallest team on the grid, with Haas being one of two teams valued under £1bn.

Gene Haas’ team have struggled in the past with controversial title sponsors and generally finding the funding to be competitive. According to journalist Nate Saunders, their factory is ‘falling down’, emphasising the work that needs to be done.

He said via Unlapped: “The one I think is fascinating is Haas. I’m stunned that Gene Haas just kind of dismissed Horner out of hand. That’s a team that really hasn’t done a huge amount in Formula 1.

“When you really look at it, they’ve been the smallest team in the sport for a long time. They’ve got a factory that’s falling down. They just built a new motorhome that’s two stories. Apparently, now they’re going to build another story on top of that just because they’ve realised it’s not big enough.

“So it’s a team, isn’t it, that has become kind of synonymous with those quite difficult title partnerships; Rich Energy, then the Uralkali money that had to go after the Russian invasion, MoneyGram is ending at the end of this year.

“It just feels like a team that maybe needs some outside investment from outside. And yeah, the fact that Gene Haas has kind of dismissed that, maybe he’s doing that to up the price.

“Maybe he’s doing that to say: ‘Well, look, if you really want it, come and table me something quite amazing’.

“But all the conversations that we’ve had, Laurence, as far as I’m aware from your side as well, has been that Gene Haas very stubbornly is just like: ‘I don’t want to do anything with this team’. So that’s an interesting one.”

READ MORE: All to know on sacked Red Bull team principal Christian Horner with net worth

Why Christian Horner would be perfect to help Haas fix their woes

Haas were quick to dismiss Horner. However, their current situation paints a bleak picture, and the former Red Bull team principal could be just the man they need.

Gene Haas has led the team since they joined F1 in 2016, but the American outfit are yet to grab a race win or podium in their history. They achieved a best finish of fifth back in 2018 and have struggled at the back ever since.

With Horner’s experience at Red Bull, building them up from the midfield and into multiple world champions, it is something that Haas surely cannot ignore. His ability to attract sponsors, as well as being another strong voice at the top, makes it a great opportunity for the team.

Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon have scored 46 points between them thus far in 2025 as Haas sit ninth in the standings. With Horner on board in 2026, they could see a dramatic improvement on and off the track; it is at least something for Gene Haas to consider.