Christian Horner, the head of the Red Bull F1 team, has dismissed as “flattering” the rumors suggesting he might move to Ferrari.
According to a report in the German newspaper BILD, Ferrari`s team principal, Frederic Vasseur, is reportedly facing pressure after a poor start to the 2025 Formula 1 season, and Ferrari management has allegedly made “informal” contact with Horner.
Horner, a Briton, has led Red Bull since its founding in 2005, guiding the team to six constructors` championships and eight drivers` championships, with Max Verstappen securing four of the latter in the most recent four years.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 at the Spanish Grand Prix on Friday, Horner commented on the rumors, stating, “It`s always very flattering to be associated with other teams.” He emphasized his long-standing dedication to Red Bull, adding, “My whole career has been spent with Red Bull and I`m absolutely committed to this team.” He concluded by saying, “There are so many rumours and speculations these days, it`s not even worth listening to.”
Horner had addressed the same speculation earlier during the team principals` press conference in Barcelona, where he was seated next to Alpine executive Flavio Briatore, who is temporarily leading Alpine following Oliver Oakes` recent exit.
During the press conference, Horner reiterated his unwavering commitment to Red Bull, stating, “My commitment 100 per cent is with Red Bull. It always has been and certainly will be for the long term.” He acknowledged the constant rumors in F1 but asserted, “People in the team know exactly what the situation is.” He humorously dismissed the Ferrari link by adding, “My Italian is worse than Flavio`s English so how on Earth would that work?”
Despite his successful track record, the 51-year-old Horner has faced a challenging period over the past 18 months, both within the sport and personally.
Allegations of inappropriate conduct brought against him by a female colleague in February 2024 were dismissed after an investigation. Horner consistently denied the accusations.
Red Bull has also seen the departure of key personnel, such as acclaimed designer Adrian Newey and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley.Max Verstappen has also been linked with a potential departure from Red Bull, with Mercedes and Aston Martin reportedly interested in signing the driver.
Autosport recently reported on a potential exit clause in Verstappen`s contract, which could be activated if he were outside the top four in the drivers` standings after the Austrian Grand Prix in late June. However, as the article notes, Verstappen is currently well within the top four, meaning this clause is unlikely to be a factor.
When questioned about the Autosport report regarding Verstappen`s contract, Horner stated that Red Bull does not discuss driver contracts publicly, adding that there is constant speculation in the sport. He expressed strong confidence in Verstappen`s long-term future with the team: “Yeah, absolutely.” Horner affirmed, “Max knows the commitment from the team… He believes in the people that are around him.” He concluded with a pragmatic note: “Nothing is ever absolutely guaranteed in life, but everybody knows where they`re at.”
Marcus Prine