Christian Horner has ‘unfinished business’ in Formula One and opened up about his desire to return to the sport he sorely misses.
The 52-year-old, who was dismissed last July 12 months on from a sex texting scandal, has been linked with a number of jobs in the paddock but is carefully considering his next move.
The former Red Bull boss left his job at the Milton Keynes-based team with an £80million package after facing the accusations that put a huge amount of scrutiny on him and the team.
Horner was accused of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour by a female member of staff, with an internal investigation led by KCs twice clearing him of wrongdoing. Geri Halliwell his former Spice Girl wife, stood by him throughout the turmoil.
Horner turned down a larger settlement in order to be able to return to work in Formula One as soon as this spring and broke his silence at the European Motor Show in Dublin on Saturday.
He said: ‘I feel like I have unfinished business in Formula One. It didn’t finish the way that I would have liked it to finish.
‘But I am not going to come back for just anything. I am only going to come back for something that can win.
‘I don’t want to go back in the paddock unless I have something to do. I miss the sport, I miss the people, I miss the team that I built.
He continued: ‘I had 21 incredible years in Formula One. I had a great run, won a lot of races, championships and worked with some amazing drivers, engineers and partners.
‘I don’t need to go back. I could stop my career now. So I would only go back for the right opportunity to work with great people, and to work in an environment where people want to win, and they shared that desire.
‘I would want to be a partner, rather than just a hired hand, but we will see how it plays out. I am not in a rush. I don’t need to do anything.’
‘What has been fascinating is that I stepped out of Red Bull on July 8, and this is the first time I have actually spoken to anyone.
‘(In the media) I think I have been going to every single Formula One team, which has ranged from the back of the grid, to the middle of the grid, and to the front of the grid. And there just seems to be an appetite as to: ‘What am I going to do? Where am I going to go?’
‘The reality is that until the spring I can’t do anything anyway. It is very flattering to keep being associated with all of these different teams.’
Horner was linked with a role at Aston Martin but it was then confirmed he will not take over as team principal. Adrian Newey, Formula One’s most revered designer, will instead assume that position this year.
As Jonathan McEvoy reported for Daily Mail Sport, Aston owner Lawrence Stroll has courted Horner for six or seven years and was, and still is, prepared to offer him a king’s ransom, including the shareholding that is potentially important to his future status, to engage his services.
The possibility of Horner running Aston is not dead, though the chance to lead Ferrari or own Alpine may be more attractive to him.
Those options, as well as starting up a 12th team, are all alive considerations.
