F1 team boss confirms Christian Horner approach as axed Red Bull chief eyes 2026 return

Christian Horner has approached midfield outfit Haas about a potential return to Formula 1. Team principal Ayao Komatsu confirmed the former Red Bull chief had made contact in recent weeks.

Horner was in charge of Red Bull for 20 years but was axed in July and officially left last month after agreeing a settlement believed to be worth around £80million. That agreement also allows him to return to F1 with another team in the first half of the 2026 season and it is understood Horner, 51, is keen to get back involved with the sport.

One of the potential destinations immediately suggested was Haas, with the opportunity to again take a small outfit and make it successful appealing to Horner. And an investment in the American team could give Horner the authority he is looking for in his next project, with the Brit uninterested in anything less than total control.

Ahead of this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix, Komatsu was asked about Horner's potential interest in the team and confirmed openly to reporters that the former Red Bull boss had indeed made contact with a senior Haas figure.

The Japanese team principal said: "It is true that he approached us and one of our guys had an exploratory, let's say, talk. But that was it. Nothing is going any further. I have got nothing more to say on that one."

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Horner would do well to convince current owner Gene Haas to part with any of his shares of the team. Despite receiving repeated offers in recent years, the American businessman insists he has no interest in selling and Komatsu recently suggested that the constant contact from enquiring parties is a source of frustration for the 72-year-old.

He said: "I don't know everything, but in the last 18 months he's had numerous offers to buy the team. He's not interested. He really enjoys being the owner of the F1 team. Currently one out of 10, from next year one out of 11. That's such a privileged position to be in. He came in at a time when F1 wasn't like this. He stuck with us during such a difficult period of Covid. Now he's enjoying it.

"Honestly, Gene is so committed... He is enjoying it, that is the main thing. We are grateful that we have such a passionate owner, so committed. He's not interested in selling at all. I can tell you recently I had some people really pushing to buy it, [Gene] is not interested. He got even annoyed that these guys are asking so many times."