Christian Horner still in frame for Aston Martin role, insider claims

Christian Horner

Christian Horner still in frame for Aston Martin role, insider claims

Horner is yet to announce whether he will return to the F1 paddock

By Sheona Mountford.

Wednesday 22 April 2026 21:00

A potential switch to Aston Martin for former Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner has not been completely ruled out, according to sources.

Back in November, team owner Lawrence Stroll dismissed speculation linking Horner to the team, with reports at the time suggesting any deal was off the table.

However, circumstances have shifted since then, with Aston Martin’s partnership project with Honda encountering significant early challenges, prompting renewed discussion about possible changes behind the scenes.

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Vibrations from the Honda power unit have made a whole race distance unsustainable during the opening two rounds of the season, while the problem has also had implications on the battery and caused damage.

Questions continue to swirl as to whether current team principal Adrian Newey is up to the role alongside his technical duties, with some saying he should focus on the car and stick to his strengths as a designer.

Will Horner go to Aston Martin?

It is understood that Stroll Sr met with Horner in March, which were followed by claims that Newey is against his former colleague joining the team and would prefer Wheatley as an alternative.

Should Horner return to F1, it has been widely reported that he desires some deal of ownership in an enterprise, similar to Toto Wolff at Mercedes.

For this reason, Alpine emerged as the most likely avenue of return for Horner, with Otro Capital's 24 per cent stake being up for the sale.

Horner, and potential future at Aston Martin, was the subject of the Sky Sports F1 Show during the five-week break between the Japanese and Miami Grands Prix.

Host Simon Lazenby asked if a return to F1 with Aston Martin could still be on the cards for Horner, but asked if his ‘previous’ with others at the team might harm his chances of a move there.

In response, pundit and former driver Karun Chandhok explained: "The reality is Formula 1 people are incredibly competitive and even if there's some damaged relationships or whatever in the past, if they feel that they can bring someone into the team that can help the entire organisation win again or be successful, they'll swallow their pride, they'll get over it and they'll recruit whoever they need to.

"So, I think that's the question though, isn't it? Do Lawrence and Adrian think they need Christian to deliver what the organisation needs? That's the big question.

"And a few months ago, you know, Lawrence was quite clear. It was a public statement, I think, wasn't there, saying that Christian Horner was not joining the team. So we'll see if that changes down the line."

F1 Christian Horner Aston Martin Karun Chandhok