Christian Horner is one of the biggest names in modern F1 history, leading Red Bull to six constructor titles. He also helped two of his star drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen win four driver world championships each.
However, after some disharmony in the Red Bull camp, and poor on-track results, the Austrian team decided it was time for Horner to go. Ever since last July, Horner has been a free agent to join whichever team he wants to on the grid.
The problem Horner has faced is choosing the right team. After a year on the side-lines, the 52-year-old still hasn't returned to the F1 grid. despite his absence, he is still being linked for a return to the paddock, with strugglers Aston Martin. However, there is a reported problem with him joining the Green team.
What is stopping Christian Horner joining Aston Martin?
Aston Martin arrive at Hungary hoping that Adrian Newey's upgrades will make them more competitive. The team has locked out the back of the grid in the last five races, which is a poor return considering the investment in the Silverstone-based team.
Getting a serial winner like Horner onboard would be a great boost for Lawrence Stroll's team. However, how a structure including both Horner and Newey in the same team is challenging.
↗︎Auto Racer is reporting that Horner would be "unlikely to accept direct superiors" and "report directly to a board or enter the project with a shareholding", similarly to how Toto Wolff acquired 30 percent of Mercedes' share, and became the CEO of the team.
It is reported that Horner wants to be the top boss, a position that he was not want to share with former Red Bull designer, Newey. This is making his move to Aston Martin difficult for the Brit, who has shown a great desire to get back into F1.
What would Christian Horner bring to Aston Martin?
Christian Horner is one of the most successful team principles over the two decades in F1. He built the Red Bull team from scratch and made them a championship winning outfit within six years. This is the experience that Aston Martin needs.
Aston Martin has been a team in decline. After achieving eight podiums in 2023, they have fallen to back of the grid, just securing a single point so far in 2026 before the Hungarian GP. They are a team that needs the leadership of someone who has been where they are and come out the other side with results.
After the 2008 season, Red Bull finished lower than fourth in the standings. This is in part due to how the team was run, and built for success. That comes down to Horner's leadership abilities. However, there is a downside to Aston Martin hiring Horner.
Towards the end of his tenure, results on the track where becoming an issue. The RB21 wasn't yielding results and cost Max Verstappen his fifth consecutive world championship. There was also off-track dramas with reports that Verstappen's camp and Horner were clashing behind the scenes. There were also allegations of inappropriate behaviour against the 52-year-old.
Hiring Horner would be a risk for Aston Martin after the Brit has been away from the sport for over a year now. However, with the Silverstone-based team encountering turbulent times, they need to weigh up whether Horner is the person who can steady the ship.
