Christian Horner, the former Red Bull team principal, has been cleared to return to Formula 1 in the first half of next season after reaching an agreement with his previous employers. The 51-year-old had been on gardening leave following his dismissal from the team after the British Grand Prix in July.
Horner, who led Red Bull since their entry into F1 in 2005, secured eight drivers' championships with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. His departure was believed to be due to subpar recent performances and internal conflicts, though Red Bull did not provide an official reason.
According to The Times, Horner is now free to stage a comeback next season, which is poised to be a pivotal moment due to major regulation changes. Teams such as Ferrari, who have cycled through several leaders, and Alpine, given Horner's close relationship with executive advisor Flavio Briatore, have been linked as potential suitors.
Horner recently finalised a settlement with Red Bull, securing him £80 million. He was under contract until 2030 and had been in negotiations following his departure, which also included an agreement on the duration of his gardening leave. Upon leaving, Horner said leading Red Bull was an honour and praised the team's achievements.
