Christian Horner has been tipped to join an F1 backmarker team rather than Ferrari following his shock dismissal by Red Bull after 20 years in charge of the team

Christian Horner has been tipped to join a struggling F1 team after his Red Bull sacking(Image: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

The prospect of Christian Horner joining Ferrari has been dismissed for two key reasons. Horner’s stint as Red Bull team principal came to an abrupt end when he was sacked this week, closing a 20-year era during which he steered the team to 14 world championships.

Parent company Red Bull GmbH announced Horner’s immediate release without citing a reason. His departure came 17 months after he was accused by a female staff member of “inappropriate behaviour”. Horner always denied the claims and was cleared of any wrongdoing following two investigations.

Horner, 51, is widely expected to return to the F1 paddock at some stage, with a potential blockbuster move to Ferrari being rumoured. Horner’s name has previously been connected with the iconic Italian outfit, with company chairman Ferrari chairman John Elkann approaching him in 2022.

However, Ferrari appointed Fred Vasseur as their team leader, who now faces intense scrutiny due to the squad’s lacklustre performance so far this season. That led to Horner-to-Ferrari speculation resurfacing earlier this summer.

However, Sky Sports pundit and ex-F1 driver Karun Chandhok has cited Horner’s apparent reluctance to relocate to Italy and the fact that design guru Adrian Newey won’t be joining him as reasons why the move won’t happen.

Ferrari wanted Newey following his decision to quit Red Bull last year amid increasing tension with Horner. But he joined Aston as a managing technical partner while also acquiring a stake in the Silverstone-based outfit.

Horner and Adrian Newey following the latter’s switch to Aston Martin(Image: Getty)

Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, Chandhok said: “I think the combination of Horner and Newey was a much more attractive package for Ferrari.”

Chandhok believes a move to Alpine, where Horner’s friend Flavio Briatore runs the team as executive advisor, is more likely. He added: “I can see him landing at Alpine more than I can see him landing at Ferrari.

“At his stage in life, does he want to uproot everything? The commute to Enstone (where Alpine are based) is pretty much the same as the one to Milton Keynes (Red Bull’s base).”

Sky Sports reporter Ted Kravitz can also see Horner joining Renault-owned Alpine, who sit at the foot of the constructors’ standings. He said: “Much better if he thought Alpine was an option, another British-based team with Flavio there, with a team that’s very like Red Bull.

Horner and Flavio Briatore are good friends(Image: Getty)

“A lot of people in Entone are ex-Red Bull and vice versa. That would be a much easier place for him to go.

“The Ferrari option, as tempting as it might have been, especially a few months ago, knowing what was going to happen (with his Red Bull exit)… but I think he’d already made his mind up not to do Ferrari and if Alpine is an option, that’s a much better way to go.”

Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle also sees Horner potentially joining Alpine, but suggested he may want more than just the role of team principal.

He said: “I think Christian will be desperate to get a stake in a team going forward and have some ownership rather than be a hired hand. He obviously won’t be able to do that (ownership) at Ferrari, as entertaining as that job might be.”