A warning of the “potential downsides” for the subsequent F1 workforce that employs Christian Horner have been outlined.
Horner is jobless in F1 for the primary time since 2004 after Pink Bull instantly sacked the 51-year-old Briton who had been answerable for the Milton Keynes squad for twenty years.
Horner, who turned F1’s youngest ever workforce principal aged 31 in 2005, led Pink Bull to eight drivers’ world championships and 6 constructors’ world titles throughout two durations of dominance over his 20 years on the helm.
Horner’s future has been a subject of a lot dialogue since his Pink Bull dismissal, and he has already been linked with Alpine and Ferrari.
However BBC Sport F1 correspondent Andrew Benson has questioned whether or not Horner is “as engaging an possibility” as has been made out.
“Since Horner was faraway from his place at Pink Bull, there have been solutions in some quarters that he can be very engaging to quite a few different groups in F1,” Benson wrote in a BBC Sport Q&A.
“Alpine is one thought that’s doing the rounds, though they’ve simply signed Steve Nielsen as managing director – ie, de facto workforce principal – to begin work in September.
“Ferrari has come up once more. And there may be the query of whether or not he might return as a co-owner someplace – Alpine, for instance, is alleged to have a few 20% shareholding up on the market.
“However is Horner as engaging an possibility as some have recommended?”
Wanting ‘complete management’
Horner reportedly misplaced his job after an influence battle inside Pink Bull amid his need for higher management of the workforce. Would this delay potential suitors?
“He has been a really profitable workforce principal at Pink Bull – the workforce have gained eight drivers’ titles, six constructors’ titles and 124 grands prix below his management,” Benson continued.
“And there’s no query that Pink Bull below Horner had a fleetness of foot and improvisational aggression that very often left their rivals trailing.
“However any workforce eager to make use of him must weigh that in opposition to potential downsides, lots of which have been concerned within the causes for Pink Bull eradicating him.
“Firstly, Horner sometimes needs complete management. However you’ll be able to’t have complete management as a workforce principal if the workforce you might be operating is a part of a wider firm.
“So, at Alpine, for instance, he would finally be answerable to Renault’s board. At Ferrari, to chairman John Elkann and CEO Benedetto Vigna. Finally, the ability would relaxation with them, not Horner. Might he abdomen that?
“Then there may be the query as as to whether a single chief continues to be as impactful in F1 lately.
“Have a look at McLaren, for instance, and the success they’ve had with chief govt officer Zak Brown in cost, however focusing primarily on the industrial facet, and Andrea Stella as workforce principal with duty for operating the workforce itself.
“Horner needed to do all that – and extra – himself.”
Pink Bull’s decline below Horner
Horner’s dismissal adopted months of declining type for Pink Bull, who’ve slipped out of championship rivalry and fallen to fourth within the constructors’ standings.
Pink Bull’s 2025 automotive has been plagued with stability issues which have left Max Verstappen’s hopes of successful a fifth straight drivers’ crown in tatters.
The escalation of Pink Bull’s efficiency woes have coincided with F1 design legend Adrian Newey leaving the workforce.
“Then there may be the truth that Pink Bull have been clearly in decline below Horner,” Benson acknowledged.
“A Horner-led Pink Bull with out design chief Adrian Newey has not appeared wherever close to the drive it was once.”
The scandal ‘hanging over’ Horner
Initially of the 2024 season, Horner was embroiled in a scandal after he was accused of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour by a feminine worker.
Though Horner was twice cleared of the claims, the controversy has continued to linger over him, and triggered unease inside Pink Bull.
“After which there are the allegations nonetheless hanging over Horner,” Benson concluded.
“Pink Bull might need cleared him in two separate inner investigations. However outdoors Pink Bull there was no conclusion to that episode.
“Till the end result of that’s identified, any firm that employs Horner is taking a major reputational danger.”
