Briatore expresses his sentiments, while Wolff displays enthusiasm:
In the ever-evolving world of Formula 1, speculation and intrigue abound. One of the most talked-about topics recently is the potential movement of Christian Horner, former team principal of Red Bull Racing, into a new role within the sport.
Alpine, previously known for its partnership with Renault engines, has announced a significant change starting in 2026. The team will transition to become a Mercedes customer team, marking a new era for the French outfit.
Toto Wolff, the influential figure at Mercedes, has expressed enthusiasm about this shift, believing it will bring more attention and excitement to Formula 1. Wolff, who holds a third of the shares in the Mercedes F1 team, has been rumoured to want co-owners in F1, similar to his own role at Mercedes.
The speculations about Horner joining Alpine have been high, given his past success at Red Bull and his subsequent removal from his CEO position at Red Bull in August. However, Briatore, an advisor at Alpine and de facto pulling the strings at the team, has denied any involvement of Horner at Alpine.
Briatore, once a successful team principal at Alpine (then known as Benetton and Renault) in the 90s and 2000s, has been grinning in press conferences, referring to himself and Wolff as "the shark mafia." Despite his larger-than-life persona, Briatore was fired from Alpine due to his role in the Crashgate scandal.
Rumours of Horner's potential involvement in F1 have been fuelled by former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos, who expects Horner may return to the sport in a new capacity, possibly involving team ownership or a shareholding role.
Steve Nielsen, titled "Managing Director," will officially take over the day-to-day operations at Alpine starting Monday. Nielsen's appointment theoretically makes room for Horner, but as of now, Horner is not currently being considered by Alpine.
Flavio Briatore has already found a team principal for Alpine, but the identity remains undisclosed. Toto Wolff finds the idea of Horner joining Alpine with Briatore intriguing, but the possibility seems remote given Briatore's denial of any involvement of Horner at Alpine.
Christian Horner, for his part, is not currently in Formula 1, according to Briatore's statement to Motorsport-Magazin.com. The future of Horner in F1 remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the sport will continue to be captivating with its mix of high-stakes competition and intriguing personalities.
