Horner returns to Silverstone paddock and refuses to rule out Alpine or BYD role

Christian Horner walked back into the Formula 1 paddock at Silverstone for the first time since his abrupt departure from Red Bull Racing in July 2025, using the British Grand Prix weekend to address swirling speculation over a potential return to the sport in a team leadership role.

The 52-year-old has been linked to two distinct comeback routes since leaving the Milton Keynes outfit: a minority stake in Alpine, and involvement in a prospective 12th team backed by Chinese automotive giant BYD. Horner declined to confirm or deny either path, but his language was notably open-ended.

“I’ve enjoyed my time out. I did 20 years straight with the Red Bull guys,” Horner said. “It’s the first time I’ve ever had a bit of time to get off the hamster wheel. But for me, I’d only look at doing the right thing — something that really had an opportunity to win at the end of the day.”

Horner framed his Silverstone visit in personal rather than professional terms, noting he has attended every British Grand Prix since 1993. “Ultimately, I’m a fan,” he said. “I’ve not missed one since ‘93, so it’s good to be here.”

On the BYD speculation specifically, he acknowledged the scale of the company while playing down the noise around his own name. “Huge entity, huge, huge, huge company,” he said. “But there has been so much speculation — I think I’ve been linked to every team on the grid so far. I’m just here to enjoy the racing.”

Horner also pointed to the broader health of the sport as a factor shaping any future decision. “Formula 1 is in such a great place, and the racing’s been super this year,” he said. “The interest in Formula 1 is sky-high, so there’s so much interest from people who want to get involved. We’ll see. I’m in no rush.”

His comments leave the door open without walking through it. Whether that changes before the end of the season — particularly as the BYD entry process and Alpine’s ownership structure continue to evolve — remains to be seen.