Because the mud begins to choose the shock information of Christian Horner’s Crimson Bull exit, consideration begins to show to the longer term and what may come subsequent.
Horner has been a pivotal determine within the F1 paddock up to now 20 years and can go down as one of many sport’s best group bosses, having overseen six constructors’ world championships and eight drivers’ world titles throughout his time accountable for Crimson Bull.
The 51-year-old Briton led Crimson Bull to 2 separate durations of dominance – first with Sebastian Vettel and later Max Verstappen – and is one in all F1’s most profitable operators. Now with no job after his abrupt sacking, the query is what subsequent for Horner?
Will Horner need to take a while out away from F1, or instantly thrust himself again into the highlight with some extent to show? It’s onerous to think about that that is the tip of his journey within the sport…
The lacking chief for Alpine?
Alpine nonetheless shouldn’t have an official group principal following Oliver Oakes’s resignation after the Miami Grand Prix earlier this yr.
Flavio Briatore is working as de-facto group boss, and the Enstone squad have introduced in Steve Nielsen as managing director to offer some much-needed expertise to the group.
Alpine stated Nielsen would “oversee the day-to-day working of the group at Enstone, ranging from 1 September forward of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza”.
Regardless of Nielsen’s impending arrival, the prospect of signing Horner would absolutely intrigue Briatore and Alpine. Maybe there’s a manner he might slot in alongside Nielsen to assist enhance the struggling group’s fortunes. Whether or not or not such a place would attraction to Horner is one other matter.
The precise particulars surrounding Horner’s departure are additionally not clear at this early stage however it’s extremely probably he must serve a interval of gardening depart earlier than he is ready to be part of a rival outfit.
Flavio Briatore and Horner are shut pals
What about Ferrari?
In late Might, Horner was being linked with Ferrari amid reviews in Italian media that Fred Vasseur’s place was beneath risk with the group weighing up whether or not to sack the Frenchman.
German publication BILD claimed Ferrari bosses had made contact with Horner however the Briton shortly turned down the strategy.
When quizzed by Crash.web on the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, Horner dismissed any notion that he can be keen to commerce his put up at Crimson Bull for Ferrari.
“Look, after all, it is all the time flattering to be related to different groups, however my dedication is 100% with Crimson Bull,” Horner replied. “It all the time has been and definitely can be for the long run.
“There is a bunch of hypothesis, as all the time on this enterprise, about individuals coming right here, going there, no matter. And I feel individuals within the group know precisely what the state of affairs is.
“My Italian is worse than Flavio [Briatore’s] English. So, how on earth would that work?”
Issues have modified shortly within the weeks which have handed and with Horner now jobless, may his place on becoming a member of Ferrari change?
Ferrari chairman John Elkann is regarded as a giant admirer of Horner and it has been prompt that he has tried to poach him from Crimson Bull on multiple event in recent times.
May Horner’s surprising availability immediate Ferrari to think about one other strategy? In spite of everything, he’s one in all F1’s most profitable group boss of the previous 20 years.
The hypothesis and strain surrounding Vasseur’s place is unlikely to die down with Horner out of the blue available on the market.
That is very a lot ‘watch this area’ territory…
