Rogue nostalgia
The F1 paddock seems to be in ‘withdrawal’ from Christian Horner. The former Red Bull team principal, who was dismissed from the Milton Keynes team last summer, has received in recent months numerous ‘unexpected’ tokens of esteem from managers who have often found themselves on the opposite side of the barricade from the 52-year-old Brit. Toto Wolff and Zak Brown, key figures of Mercedes and McLaren, recently said they “miss” their historic rival, while highlighting the character and leadership differences that made them poorly compatible with Horner.
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But in favor of a comeback as a protagonist of the architect of Red Bull’s triumphs also spoke the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The head of the federation had also had clashes with Horner in the past, but recently the two had grown much closer so much so that Horner at the end of January this year went to greet Ben Sulayem at the FIA offices in Paris.
Horner wants to return, says Ben Sulayem
Speaking with colleagues present in Miami on the sidelines of the Grand Prix, the head of the federation publicly expressed words of esteem for Horner, as reported by Reuters: “Who can erase the name of Christian Horner from the world of motorsport and Formula 1? No one. You can’t. He has always been successful. But success also brings enemies, as we know,” Ben Sulayem observed – if you ask me, we miss him in this sport and I miss him. I have stayed in contact with him and he has done good for (his) team and good for the sport. He wants to come back. I talk to him regularly and I feel he will return. When he returns, it will be as if he went on vacation. He has been a prominent figure in this sport”.
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According to rumors that have been going on for months Horner is among those interested in buying 24% of the Alpine team shares, held by the American private equity company Otro Capital. However, those shares are coveted by many, including Toto Wolff and Mercedes, who have publicly expressed interest in acquiring them.
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