Ferrari's stance on hiring Christian Horner after Red Bull sacking
On Wednesday, the F1 world was stunned by the announcement that Horner had been 'relieved of his operational duties' by Red Bull, the team he had run for over two decades.
A number of factors led to the 51-year-old's downfall, including a reported power struggle at the team, their poor performance over the past 12 months and the loss of key members of staff.
He also had a long-running feud with star driver Max Verstappen's dad Jos, while the allegations of coercive behaviour towards a female colleague, for which he was twice cleared following internal investigations, continue to hang over him.
Regardless, Horner, husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, is one of the greatest F1 team principals in history having won eight drivers' championships and six constructors' championships.
So it would not be a surprise to see the Brit back in the F1 paddock at a rival team in the near-future, with Sky Sports reporting that Horner's gardening leave ends at the end of the year.
Horner still had over five years left on his contract at the time of dismissal and is still technically employed by Red Bull, with his lawyers working on a settlement agreement which could reportedly pocket him over £66million.
Several teams have been linked with his services, including French outfit Alpine, who are currently last in the standings, and Cadillac who will join the grid next year.
Ferrari have repeatedly attempted to lure Horner to Italy over the years and it was reported that they had approached him again just a few months ago.
The Scuderia have not won either championship since 2008 though they did come very close to winning the constructors' title last season.
Those reports were dismissed by Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur but he remains under severe pressure with his side far behind runaway championship leaders McLaren.
The Frenchman is out of contract at the end of the year which could open the door for Horner, but he retains the backing of Sir Lewis Hamilton and The Times now report that Ferrari are in negotiations to extend Vasseur's deal.
Prior to leaving Red Bull, Horner addressed the rumours linking him with Ferrari, telling Sky Sports in May:
'It's always very flattering to be associated with other teams.
'My whole career has been spent with Red Bull and I'm absolutely committed to this team. There are so many rumours and speculations these days, it's not even worth listening to.
Due to the intense rivalry between Red Bull and Hamilton's former team Mercedes, the seven-time world champion doesn't have the best of relationships with Horner.
As such, Horner's potential move to Maranello may not go down so well with Hamilton who has cited Vasseur as a key factor in his decision to join the Italian team.
'I can't imagine this is the last that we will see or hear of Christian Horner. He already said he has big plans for 2026,' F1 pundit Will Buxton told The Sports Agents podcast.
Ferrari – 6/4
Aston Martin – 12/5
Cadillac – 5/1
Alpine, Williams – 16/1
Odds courtesy of AceOdds
'There have been rumours already this year that he was being courted by Alpine, rumours linking him to Ferrari. More Trending
'I think that one's more of a stretch than the Alpine one. He's very close with Flavio Briatore. That one would seem to be more logical for me.
'If they replaced Fred with Christian Horner, I don't think Lewis would be a Ferrari driver for much longer!'
The Sports Agents is available to listen to now on Global Player, or wherever you get your podcasts .
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Inside Christian Horner's marriage to Geri Halliwell as he's sacked from Red Bull
MORE: Lewis Hamilton speaks out on blockbuster Max Verstappen to Mercedes move
MORE: Max Verstappen claims Oscar Piastri didn't deserve British Grand Prix penalty
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
19 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Dagenham seal Andy Carroll transfer coup
The 36-year-old, who played nine times for England, has made the switch to the National League South side on a three-year deal. Dagenham announced earlier on Saturday that they had been taken over by a Qatari consortium. Carroll left Bordeaux last month following one season in the fourth tier of French football. Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: 'The level doesn't matter as long as I get on the pitch and play football. It's not every day… ⚔️ — Dagenham & Redbridge (@Dag_RedFC) July 12, 2025 'I have had clubs ringing me up, higher leagues, but it has to be the right fit and I need to be in control of what I want to do and not go somewhere because it is higher or there is more money involved. 'I know what will suit me and this is something I believe can be fantastic. There is a project in place, getting them back out of non-league and up the leagues. It is just a great place to be.' As well as playing for Liverpool and Newcastle, Carroll has had spells with West Ham, Reading and West Brom and spent the last two seasons in France, first with Amiens and then Bordeaux. He continued: 'I have more excitement now than I ever have. I just love playing football and showing everyone I am playing for the love of football, rather than the money or level. It is something I want to do and I am lucky that I can continue to do that.'
Glasgow Times
20 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Dagenham seal Andy Carroll transfer coup
The 36-year-old, who played nine times for England, has made the switch to the National League South side on a three-year deal. Dagenham announced earlier on Saturday that they had been taken over by a Qatari consortium. Carroll left Bordeaux last month following one season in the fourth tier of French football. Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: 'The level doesn't matter as long as I get on the pitch and play football. 'I have had clubs ringing me up, higher leagues, but it has to be the right fit and I need to be in control of what I want to do and not go somewhere because it is higher or there is more money involved. 'I know what will suit me and this is something I believe can be fantastic. There is a project in place, getting them back out of non-league and up the leagues. It is just a great place to be.' As well as playing for Liverpool and Newcastle, Carroll has had spells with West Ham, Reading and West Brom and spent the last two seasons in France, first with Amiens and then Bordeaux. He continued: 'I have more excitement now than I ever have. I just love playing football and showing everyone I am playing for the love of football, rather than the money or level. It is something I want to do and I am lucky that I can continue to do that.'
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
Rhian Wilkinson insists Wales not just at Euro 2025 to participate
Wales sit on the brink of a Euro 2025 exit having failed to pick up a point during their time in Switzerland so far, but Wilkinson was keen to impress just how remarkable an achievement it was for the side to even be at the tournament in the first place. But though she wants to accentuate the positives, the Wales manager was also far from rolling over for England as her side look to make an impact in their remaining game. 'I don't think many people inside women's football understand that we're here for the first time and we're here to make an impact,' said Wilkinson. 'Part of that is celebrating our firsts so we were able to celebrate Jess [Fishlock]'s goal twice thanks to VAR. All these moments are important to celebrate. 'Those countries that are fortunate enough to have the player pool to expect regularly to qualify for these events have forgotten what an achievement it is to be at the pinnacle of the game at these major events. 'These women have fought so hard for so long to have this opportunity and I will not allow us to feel like we're just here to participate, so we will continue to celebrate.' MD-1 preparation! 💪 Wales fell to a 3-0 defeat in their opening Euro 2025 match against the Netherlands but grew into the tournament to get off to a strong start against a rotated France side. While France took an early lead, Fishlock's 13th-minute equaliser not only represented Wales' first-ever major tournament goal but also put them back on level terms with a side expected to go far at the Euros. Wilkinson's side could not hold out as they fell to 4-1 loss, but she hopes the side will take a key lesson from both games as they head into a crunch clash with England. '[I want them to play with] freedom and courage. We've talked about it all the time. I love watching this team when they start to find their flow,' she said. 'That's what we want to see another time. Our fan base has been incredible and we're so grateful for it so the very least that we can do is show up and give it everything we've got. 'They're on the journey with us and they understand they're here to celebrate something historic. We hope it's a win.' That win will be made all the more special if it comes over neighbours England. It is a rivalry embedded deep into the two side's footballing history. Though Wilkinson may be Canadian, a fierce contest with those in geographical proximity is something she understands well, though she has been keen not to let the players get ahead of themselves. 'I understand the grudge match with my neighbours [the USA],' she said. 'We're preparing like we do every game. I've not let them talk about this England game until we were finished at the French game. 'But equally, for me, this is another incredible challenge. I can't pretend there's not history there. I have read a book. 'For these women, it's acknowledging it and not letting it get bigger than it needs to be. 'This is going to be a wonderful opportunity for women's football and for two nations, neighbours, to put on a display for our families.'
