Christian Horner has officially been sacked by Red Bull and departs the team he carefully built up for 20 years, but what is next for the 51-year-old? Could he move to Ferrari?
The British team principal led Red Bull to eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ championships from 2005-2024, allowing drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen to forge their legacies at Milton Keynes.
However, the previous 18 months have marked a period of decline defined by key departures such as Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley, off-track scandals involving allegations of misconduct against the 51-year-old and an internal power struggle at the team.
Not only that, they have also lost their phenomenal advantage from 2023 and now find themselves stuck with a torrid RB21 that is inconsistent, unstable and slower than McLaren, who are 288 points ahead after 12 rounds of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
So, what’s next for Horner after his Red Bull sacking? Perhaps a move to Italy? Another team embarking on a disappointing campaign are Ferrari, who trail McLaren by 138 points despite finishing 2024 one victory away from the constructors’ title.
Struggling to understand their own SF-25 challenger, much to the frustrations of the supremely talented Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as both have to helplessly watch another shot at the drivers’ championship slip away.
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With the chairman of Ferrari reportedly placing a big investment in Hamilton, who is a seven-time world champion, as they chase their first title since 2008, it has been reported that Fred Vasseur’s job is also on the line as results remain below expectations.
Although he has the backing of his drivers, the Frenchman could soon find himself job hunting and that could open the door for Horner to come into a brand-new team, one that tried to land him in the past.
But is it realistic? Whilst Italian media broke the news of Ferrari gently asking if the experienced team boss would be open to relocating to Northern Italy, some believe it is still a long shot.
“I can only imagine Horner in Maranello if they give him the key to Maranello,” reports Roberto Chinchero. “If they give him the keys, they tell him: ‘You go and you’re x years old, this is the budget and you do whatever you want’.
“At that point, he probably might be tempted, but in a different scenario than this, I really can’t imagine Horner in Maranello.”
However, now out of a job, the ex-Red Bull supremo’s hand is now in a disadvantageous position, and he may no longer be able to make the demands of Ferrari that he previously could.
Helmut Marko believes Ferrari is an attractive prospect to Horner, as the Austrian advisor claimed he was the reason why the Brit didn’t quit the team at the end of 2022 when he was reportedly offered a chance to replace Mattia Binotto.
Christian Horner misconduct trial still looms despite Red Bull sacking
Christian Horner began 2024 on the back foot after being accused of alleged misconduct involving a female staff member; an incident Red Bull launched an investigation into, before eventually clearing him of the matter.
However, despite his exoneration and subsequent dismissal of an appeal, he is now facing renewed legal proceedings as his accuser has escalated the matter to the UK Employment Tribunal.
A formal hearing has been scheduled for January 2026, as reported by Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, centered around purported inappropriate messages and claims of psychological pressure dating back to early 2024.
Though Red Bull concluded there was insufficient evidence to support disciplinary action, legal filings indicate that the case is still active. Additionally, a media gag order has been placed, restricting UK press coverage until after the hearing.
As of July 2025, Horner continues to deny all allegations, although the tribunal’s outcome may significantly impact his professional legacy and ultimately if he is able to secure F1 work in the future.
