Christian Horner Ferrari update emerges after Red Bull F1 axe

Reports coming out of Italy have addressed the ongoing rumour that the country's iconic F1 team are interested in signing ex-Red Bull boss Christian Horner.

The Brit was handed a shock axing from his role as Red Bull team principal after 20 years last week, and in the fallout, has been linked with a number of returns to the paddock including with Ferrari and Alpine.

His chances of a comeback to the F1 paddock as a team boss to Lewis Hamilton at the Scuderia have now been given a strong verdict, according to reports in Italy.

The Italian team had been rumoured to be weighing up a change in team principal given their disappointing start to 2025 under Fred Vasseur's leadership, with the arrival of seven-time champion Hamilton doing nothing to improve their chances of ending a championship drought that extends back to 2008.

In fact, Ferrari have slipped even further back from McLaren since the end of the 2024 campaign when both teams were fighting for the constructors' championship at the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi. McLaren now currently lead the Maranello outfit by a mammoth 238 points halfway through the season.

But Ferrari, who had been interested in a move for Horner as recently as 2022, appear to have gone cold on the former Red Bull F1 boss despite the tantalising prospect of forming a superteam with Charles Leclerc and Hamilton.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen says former Red Bull teammate 'good choice' for Cadillac F1 project

Are Ferrari interested in signing Horner?

According to Corriere della Sera, Ferrari's sudden loss of interest in Horner who helped build Red Bull into a championship-winning team with eight drivers' and six constructors' titles is down to the off-track baggage he could bring with him.

Horner apparently fell out with reigning champion Max Verstappen and his entourage, including father Jos.

On top of this, Horner has been plagued by splits with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, as well as being at the centre of a Red Bull investigation over inappropriate behaviour with a Red Bull employee - although this is something he denies and was cleared of, following an internal Red Bull investigation.

Meanwhile, Ferrari will be focusing on the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix where they hope to build on a potential Hamilton breakthrough at Silverstone last time out.

Hamilton finished fourth in front of his home crowd at the British Grand Prix, marking his best grand prix race finish with the team. Although team-mate Charles Leclerc struggled at Silverstone he will hope to bounce back at Spa.

In the last six Belgian grands prix three have been won by Hamilton and Leclerc - including last year where Hamilton triumphed in what remains his most recent grand prix victory.

READ MORE: Red Bull announce Christian Horner FIRED in shock F1 departure

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