09/07/2025 20:15
Former F1 driver Karun Chandhok believes Alpine could be a
potential destination for Christian Horner following his exit from
Red Bull. Red Bull announced on Wednesday that it had parted ways
with Horner with immediate effect, bringing the curtain down on his
20-year association with the team. It has already raised the
question of what Horner will do next, having established himself as
one of the most successful team bosses in F1 history. Speaking to
Sky Sports News , Chandhok suggested Horner could first seek to
enjoy some time away from Red Bull's hectic lifestyle. "Does he
want a little bit of time away? He's been in the pressure cooker of
F1 for 20 years at the forefront," Chandhok said. "He's never
missed a race, famously. We've heard other team bosses, Zak Brown
and Toto Wolff, occasionally not going to a race. "Christian has
not missed a race since he has been in charge of Red Bull at the
first race in 2005. It's been a long time, so perhaps he wants a
bit of time out." Prior to his exit, Horner was already being
linked with moves to Ferrari and Alpine - however the 51-year-old
denied having interest in departing Red Bull for a rival. But
should Horner look to return to F1 in the future, Chandhok has
signalled Alpine as a team that could use his services. "Could he
go to Ferrari? There were lots of rumours that they would try to
hire him on various occasions," Chandhok said. "It didn't happen.
Fred Vasseur, lots of rumours about his future. Personally, I don't
think he'll go there. Could he end up at Alpine? In terms of his
personal life, he'd carry on living in the UK. Would he uproot his
children, uproot his entire life? Probably not. Alpine is still
based in that Oxfordshire valley, motorsport valley here in the UK.
They're looking for a team principal. "They've hired Steve Nielsen
as a managing director. Christian's old friend, Flavio Briatore, is
in charge as an executive consultant. "But that could be a future
destination for Christian Horner - if he does choose, of course, to
carry on in the pressure cooker of Formula 1."
