Briatore expresses his response, while Wolff shows excitement:
In a recent press conference at Zandvoort, Flavio Briatore, current interim team principal at Alpine and advisor to the team since last year, hinted at the possibility of the return of Christian Horner to Formula 1. Briatore, once a successful team principal at Alpine (then under the names Benetton and Renault), celebrated several titles before being fired, and Horner, the former Red Bull Racing team principal, has been officially removed from his CEO position at Red Bull in August.
Briatore, in a lighthearted manner, referred to himself and Horner as "the shark mafia" during the press conference. However, he clarified that he has already found a team principal for Alpine, implying that Horner is not needed. Speculations about Horner joining Alpine are high, but Briatore denies these rumors, stating that he is not currently being considered for the team.
Toto Wolff, who holds a third of the shares in the Mercedes F1 team, expressed interest in the potential collaboration of Horner, Briatore, and others, stating it would bring attention to Formula 1. Wolff, who mentioned the larger-than-life team principal characters of the past, including Briatore, Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, and Luca di Montezemolo, voiced a desire for more charismatic team principal figures in the sport.
Steve Nielsen, titled "Managing Director" at Alpine, is currently handling the day-to-day business, with Briatore overseeing the team as the interim team principal. There could be room for Horner at Alpine, but as of now, it seems Briatore has found his team principal.
The Renault group, the majority owner of Alpine, has shown no fundamental opposition to share sales in the past. In fact, 24 percent of Alpine were sold to a US investor group with various Hollywood stars a few years ago.
Starting in 2026, Alpine will no longer run with Renault engines but will be a Mercedes customer team. This change could potentially open up new opportunities for Horner, as he actively seeks a new employer. Rumours suggest possible future roles at Alpine or Cadillac, but no confirmed new employer yet.
Wolff's comments indicate a belief that Formula 1 needs personalities to attract attention. Wolff's comments about the past team principals imply that there are different stories behind their names compared to today's team principals. This could suggest a shift in the way teams are managed in the future, with a focus on charisma and personality.
In conclusion, while the future of Christian Horner in Formula 1 remains uncertain, the potential collaboration of Horner, Briatore, and others continues to be a topic of interest and speculation among fans and industry insiders alike.
