Christian Horner Could Return to F1 in 2026 After $100M Red Bull Buyout

Former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner is getting paid roughly $100 million to finalize his exit from the storied Formula One outfit, and he will be allowed to sign with another team as soon as next year, according to multiple reports.

On Monday, Red Bull officially announced Horner’s exit, more than two months after firing him from the team principal position he had held since 2005. His contract was set to run until 2030, so the two sides had been negotiating a buyout.

Red Bull did not release specific terms, but Horner is reportedly taking a reduced payout—albeit still a lucrative one—in the range of $100 million, according to multiple outlets, including ESPN and Sky Sports. And perhaps more importantly, the 51-year-old will be allowed to sign a new F1 contract, if another F1 team wants to hire him, in 2026.

What’s Next?

Shortly after Red Bull fired Horner in July, Ferrari signed team principal Fred Vasseur to a multiyear extension. 

In August, Cadillac F1 team CEO Dan Towriss pushed back on rumors that the incoming expansion team would pursue Horner. “There have been no talks with Christian Horner,” Towriss said. “No plans to do that. I’d like to officially shut down that rumor.” Cadillac hired Graeme Lowdon as its team principal in December.

Alpine, which sits last place on the grid this season and saw its former team principal, Graeme Lowdon, resign in May, has also been rumored as a landing spot for Horner.

This season, former Red Bull CTO Adrian Newey joined Aston Martin. Newey and Horner worked together at Red Bull from 2006 to 2024. Aston Martin is seventh in the F1 constructors’ standings under first-year team principal Andy Cowell.