Formula 1: Christian Horner has ‘unfinished business’ after Red Bull exit

Christian Horner has admitted he misses Formula One and said he has unfinished business in the sport as he spoke publicly for the first time since he was ousted by Red Bull Racing.

The 52-year-old was dismissed as Red Bull team principal following July’s British Grand Prix, before his official exit was agreed in September, having overseen 20 years of success with the team, wining eight drivers’ and six constructors’ titles.

Red Bull’s decision to part ways with Horner came a year-and-a-half after he was accused of “inappropriate behaviour” by a female colleague, which led to internal investigations in which a King’s Counsel (KC) cleared him twice.

Horner has kept a low profile since the fallout, but speaking at the European Motor Show in Dublin, he declared his desire to get back into the sport.

“I feel like I have unfinished business in F1,” Horner said. “It didn’t finish the way that I would have liked it to finish.

“But I am not going to come back for just anything. I am only going to come back for something that can win.

“I don’t want to go back in the paddock unless I have something to do. I miss the sport, I miss the people, I miss the team that I built.

Christian Horner (right) with Kiwi F1 driver Liam Lawson. Photo / Getty Images

“I would want to be a partner, rather than just a hired hand, but we will see how it plays out. I am not in a rush. I don’t need to do anything.”

There has been plenty of speculation linking Horner to a Formula One return since his departure from Red Bull.

They have included joining Aston Martin or Ferrari, while it was announced last month he’s leading a consortium that is interested in Otro Capital’s 24% stake in Alpine – a team that finished bottom of the constructors’ championship last season.

“[In the media,] I think I have been going to every single team, which has ranged from the back of the grid, to the middle of the grid, and to the front of the grid,” Horner said.

“There just seems to be an appetite as to: ‘What am I going to do? Where am I going to go?’ The reality is that until the spring, I can’t do anything anyway.

“It is very flattering to keep being associated with all of these different teams.”

The 2026 season begins on March 8 with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Lando Norris of McLaren is the defending champion, while Kiwi driver Liam Lawson enters his second full season on the grid for Red Bull sister team Racing Bulls.

Horner will also be in Australia later this month as part of a speaking tour, with events in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.