FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has stated that Formula 1 misses Christian Horner, as the former Red Bull team principal explores a return to the sport following his dismissal last summer. Horner, 52, is seeking a route back into the paddock after being sacked from Red Bull, where he led the team to 14 world championships over two decades.
Horner's potential return
The British executive has been linked with several teams, including Alpine, Aston Martin, and even Ferrari. He is part of a consortium that has bid for a minority stake in Alpine, alongside a pitch from Mercedes. Ben Sulayem, who has met with Horner recently, expressed confidence in his return.
Speaking to media in Miami, Ben Sulayem said: "Who can remove Christian Horner's name from motorsport and Formula 1? You can't. It was always successful. But success also has enemies, as we know. If you ask me, we miss him in this sport and I do. I keep in touch with him. He was good for the team, good for the sport."
Ben Sulayem's support
Ben Sulayem added: "We would welcome him back, and someone like him will always find his way. I always say to him, 'you talk too much, but you don't mean anything bad'. He has a clean heart. And he wants to come back. As I said, I talk to him regularly, and I feel he will be back. When he comes back, it will be like he went for a vacation."
Horner is known to be interested in acquiring a stake in any F1 team he joins. Alongside Alpine, he has been linked with Aston Martin, who have endured a difficult start to the 2026 campaign. He previously worked alongside Aston's team principal and design guru Adrian Newey at Red Bull for nearly two decades.
Unfinished business
Horner, who oversaw all four of Max Verstappen's world championships, acknowledged at a public event in Dublin in January that he has "unfinished business" in Formula 1. He has also been linked with Ferrari, though a move to Maranello is unlikely given his desire to own a stake.
Ben Sulayem concluded: "When someone like him has that history behind him, you don't look at his credibility. People will come to him. But also, it has to be both ways, because how do people know that you are interested if you don't show your interest? I don't give advice. I just give some ideas, but he's full of knowledge, his record is amazing and I do like him. He's been a character in the sport."
Horner, who received a reported £80m payout after leaving Red Bull, can now officially return to the sport as part of the terms of his severance package.
