Horner ‘ringing up every team owner’ as he plots F1 return

Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner is calling “pretty much every team owner” looking for a return to Formula One, Aston Martin team principal Andy Cowell said at the Singapore Grand Prix on Friday.

Haas team chief Ayao Komatsu had revealed on Thursday that Horner, who was sacked by Red Bull almost three months ago, had approached the American team over a new role.

Cowell told reporters he had talked to Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll on Friday morning “to find out what he knows”. 

“It looks as though Christian’s ringing up pretty much every team owner at the moment,” Cowell said.

He quickly shut down any paddock rumours of the 51-year-old Briton joining Aston. 

“I can clearly say there are no plans for involvement of Christian either in an operational or investment role in the future,” Cowell said.

The talk appeared to have been fuelled by Aston Martin employing car design guru Adrian Newey, who created Red Bull’s dominant cars under Horner.

Horner led Red Bull to eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ crowns before being axed in July.

Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen also denied Horner could be joining his team.

“There’s no truth in Christian coming to Alpine,” Nielsen told reporters. 

“But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. This is Formula 1, after all.”

Williams boss James Vowles said it would be silly not to have a chat with Horner, if he called, but that would be as far as it went.

“I think you should always welcome a conversation and there’s no point closing the door,” Vowles said.

“I think we’re very happy with the structure we have and it’s working,” he added.

“So I don’t see any reason to make any changes to that.”