BREAKING: Christian Horner Holds Surprise Meeting With FIA President B… Read more
Christian Horner Holds Surprise Meeting With FIA President
By Hugo Harvey
Christian Horner has taken another step back into the Formula 1 spotlight after being pictured in a surprise meeting with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, reigniting speculation over a possible return to the sport following his departure from Red Bull. The images, shared publicly by Ben Sulayem on Instagram, showed the former Red Bull team principal smiling broadly alongside the FIA president inside the governing body’s Paris offices, with one photograph capturing the pair laughing together and another showing them in a warm embrace.
The meeting immediately drew attention across the paddock, not least because Horner has largely remained out of public view since his dramatic exit from Red Bull last summer. Ben Sulayem, who was recently re-elected as president of Formula 1’s governing body, accompanied the images with a welcoming message that read: “Wonderful to welcome Christian Horner to the FIA Paris offices today.” The tone of the post, combined with the visible warmth between the two men, inevitably sparked questions about the purpose of the visit and whether it signalled something more significant than a courtesy call.
However, despite the speculation, those close to the situation have been keen to dampen any immediate conclusions. Sky F1 presenter Craig Slater reported that the meeting was not connected to Horner’s ambitions to return to Formula 1 in an official capacity. According to Slater, the discussion was simply “a chat between friends,” with no regulatory or political agenda behind it. “That wasn’t the centrepoint of what they were discussing,” Slater explained, suggesting that the optics of the meeting may have carried more weight than its actual substance.
Even so, the timing of the encounter has only intensified ongoing rumours surrounding Horner’s future. Since leaving Red Bull, the 52-year-old has been repeatedly linked with a potential comeback, with his vast experience and reputation as one of the most successful team principals of the modern era making him an attractive figure for teams and investors alike. Horner oversaw Red Bull’s transformation into a dominant force in Formula 1, delivering multiple world championships and establishing a highly efficient, title-winning operation.
Central to the latest wave of speculation is Alpine. Reports suggest Horner, alongside a group of business associates, has made a serious approach to acquire a shareholding in the French outfit. That stake is currently held by Otro Capital, one of several interested parties believed to be in discussions over Alpine’s future ownership structure. While any such move would not guarantee Horner an operational role, it would represent a clear pathway back into Formula 1 at senior level.
As Slater noted, the situation is far from straightforward. Although Otro Capital holds the shareholding in question, Renault Group ultimately retains governance authority over Alpine, meaning any sale would require approval from the manufacturer. This adds another layer of complexity to Horner’s potential return, particularly given Alpine’s ongoing struggles to establish itself as a consistent front-running team. Nevertheless, acquiring a stake in an existing operation would be a significantly faster route back into the sport than attempting to launch a new team from scratch, especially under the current regulatory and financial constraints.
There is also the matter of Horner’s gardening leave to consider. Following his exit from Red Bull, he remains subject to contractual restrictions that are understood to prevent him from taking up a full-time role with a rival team until the spring of 2026. While this does not rule out investment activity or informal involvement, it does limit how quickly he could return to the paddock in an official capacity. Any immediate comeback, therefore, would likely be strategic rather than operational.
The meeting with Ben Sulayem also raises broader questions about Horner’s standing within the sport’s power structures. During his time at Red Bull, he was often one of the most vocal critics of FIA decisions, particularly during periods of intense rivalry and regulatory controversy. Seeing him now publicly aligned with the FIA president presents a striking contrast, even if both parties insist the meeting was purely social.
Ultimately, whether this Paris encounter proves to be a footnote or a prelude remains to be seen. What is clear is that Christian Horner remains a significant figure in Formula 1, even while officially outside the paddock. His name continues to generate headlines, his movements continue to be scrutinised, and any hint of a return is enough to spark widespread debate.
For now, the FIA insists there is nothing more to read into the meeting than a friendly exchange. Yet in Formula 1, perception often carries almost as much weight as reality. With Alpine ownership talks ongoing and Horner’s gardening leave ticking down, this unexpected meeting has ensured one thing above all else: Christian Horner’s Formula 1 story is not over yet.
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