Christian Horner’s ‘Likeliest’ Next F1 Team Revealed

It has been a little over two weeks since Christian Horner was shockingly fired by Red Bull Racing. The 51-year-old had been team principal throughout the constructor’s entire existence and enjoyed plenty of success during his 20 years in charge.

Under Horner’s stewardship, Red Bull won the Drivers’ Championship on eight occasions and raised the Constructors’ Championship six times. However, after an indifferent first half of the season, neither of those titles look to be within Red Bull’s reach in 2025.

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen trails pacesetter Oscar Piastri by 69 points in the individual standings, while the situation is even worse in the Constructors’ Championship. Red Bull sit in 4th place overall – a staggering 288 points behind leaders McLaren.

Amid such poor form and reports of tension between Horner and star driver Verstappen, team bosses decided to axe the Warwickshire-born CEO. Despite Red Bull’s struggles in the months leading up to his exit, Horner’s departure was still met with surprise by team staff, many of whom were devastated by the news.

Even though they had seemingly had their differences behind the scenes, Verstappen was quick to pay tribute to his former boss, as he wrote on social media:

“From my first race win, to four world championships, we have shared incredible successes. Winning memorable races and breaking countless records. Thank you for everything, Christian!”

Christian Horner’s stats at Red Bull
Honours	#
Drivers’ Championships	8
Constructors’ Championships	6
Races	405
Podiums	287
Poles	107
Wins	124

F1 Team Keen to Land ‘Dominant’ Horner

Talks have already begun

A clause in his contract with the Austrian side means that Horner cannot join another team until 2026, but that hasn’t stopped a number of teams from expressing interest in snapping up the former Red Bull chief as soon as legally possible. Reports have linked Horner with the team principal role at Ferrari. However, per Italian outlet Formula Uno Analisi Tecnica, Horner is “already talking” to another team about potentially joining them next season.

Cadillac will join F1 in 2026, becoming the 11th team on the grid – and the first new constructor since Haas were admitted in 2016. The American outfit already has a team principal in place in the shape of former Manor F1 executive Graeme Lowdon. In view of Horner’s sudden availability, though, Cadillac is said to be ready to be ready to “rework their operation to find room for a dominant figure like Horner”. Discussions have progressed to the point where the team is now believed to be Horner’s “likeliest” next destination.

Although there is no shortage of suitors chasing his signature, Horner and his camp are said to be chasing a massive severance package from Red Bull after his sacking. Horner’s contract for his now-former role had been set to run until 2030 and is believed to have been worth a massive £12 million each year. It remains to be seen whether those negotiations will hinder any potential return to the sport for Horner.