Aston Martin workforce principal Andy Cowell says they’ve “no plans” to deliver former Pink Bull chief Christian Horner on board.
Horner’s future, and the place on the grid he may return in F1, has intensified because the 51-year-old’s official departure from Pink Bull was final week introduced after settlement on the phrases of his exit after 20 years in cost.
Sky Sports activities understands Horner, who was faraway from his twin Pink Bull Racing function of workforce principal and chief government in July, took a lowered pay-out within the area of £75m to make sure he can be allowed to return to the game in 2026.
Talking on Thursday in Singapore, Haas workforce principal Ayao Komatsu mentioned Horner had “approached us” and “one of our guys had an exploratory talk” however added: “Nothing has gone any further. It is finished.”
Horner has additionally been linked with Aston Martin and, requested in Friday’s workforce bosses’ press conferences if that they had been approached, Cowell mentioned he had spoken to workforce proprietor Lawrence Stroll concerning the scenario.
“Had a chat with Lawrence this morning to find out what he knows,” mentioned Cowell.
“It looks as though Christian’s ringing up pretty much every team owner at the moment, so you can pass the question along.”
Cowell, whose Aston Martin workforce employed legendary technical chief Adrian Newey from Horner’s Pink Bull final 12 months, added: “I can clearly say there are no plans for involvement of Christian either in a operational or investment role in the future.”
Sky Sports activities Information understands that whereas Horner is eager on returning to F1 in future as a stakeholder in a workforce, he has not sought a job with one other outfit since leaving Pink Bull.
Group boss? Stakeholder? New workforce proprietor? What is going on on with Horner’s F1 future plans?
Evaluation from Sky Sports activities Information reporter Craig Slater:
“I’ve been speaking to some people close to him and putting those Andy Cowell comments to them, and the response to me is Christian Horner is not looking for a job, he’s looking for a stake in a team and that’s his focus right now.
“They’ve defined to me there was an middleman that arrange the assembly between Horner and Haas, so it wasn’t one thing Horner sought to arrange himself.
“In terms of Aston Martin, Horner is a personal friend of owner Lawrence Stroll and I understand he was a guest at Stroll’s house in the aftermath of his departure from Red Bull. It doesn’t look like that will come to anything.
“Horner is having rounds of conferences with vital enterprise teams – world banks, sovereign wealth funds and people of great private wealth.
“It’s the business side of his F1 return that he’s looking at to see what’s the best commercial platform he can put together or be part of which will enable him to rejoin the fray, not just as a team principal, but a co-owner.
“It has been defined to me there is no scarcity of huge enterprise companions probably to affiliate themselves with Horner. The query is will it imply making an attempt to purchase a workforce, or possibly beginning a twelfth workforce which might be a less expensive choice and tough to possibly get via with the FIA and F1 however a solution to completely put himself accountable for his personal F1 future.
“It will be some weeks and months before we get further clarity on the precise means with which Horner can come back to F1. At the moment, he’s focused on the money side of things and getting the right business platform in place to be a big player in the sport, not just an employee.”
What produce other groups mentioned about Horner?
The 2 workforce chiefs alongside Cowell in Friday’s press convention – Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen and Williams workforce principal James Vowles – have been additionally requested if their outfits had spoken with Horner.
When it comes to Renault-owned Alpine, the place Horner’s long-time good friend Flavio Briatore is government advisor, Nielsen mentioned: “As far as I know, no [Horner has not been in touch] but Flavio and Christian are old friends.
“That is no secret. What they’ve talked about, I do not know, however the whole lot I see and the whole lot I do know, there is no fact in Christian coming to Alpine, however that does not imply it will not occur.”
Williams’ Vowles additionally mentioned there had been no contract along with his squad.
Requested if he would welcome a dialog with the 14-time world title-winning boss sooner or later, Vowles mentioned: “You should always welcome a conversation. There’s no point closing the door.
“However I feel we’re proud of the construction we now have and it is working. I do not see any motive to make any modifications to that.”
Sky Sports F1’s Singapore GP schedule
Saturday October 4
7.55am: F1 Academy Race 1
10.15am: Singapore Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 10.30am)
1pm: Singapore Grand Prix Qualifying build-up
2pm: SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*
4pm: Ted’s Quali Notebook
Sunday October 5
8.20am: F1 Academy Race 2
11.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Singapore GP build-up
1pm: THE SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
3pm: Chequered Flag: Singapore GP reaction
4pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
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