P1racenews AI automatic summary:
A former colleague of Christian Horner has cast doubt on the ex-Red Bull boss returning to F1 in 2026.
Guenther Steiner believes that Christian Horner will not make a quick return to Formula 1 next season after leaving Red Bull last week with a reported £80m severance package.
Horner, who has been linked with several F1 teams like Alpine, Aston Martin, and Haas, is free to return to a role in F1 before the summer of 2026, but Steiner doubts he will rush back.
Steiner thinks Horner wants to be part of a team as an owner, but with no suitable opportunities available, he may hold off returning for now.
Regarding a potential move to Aston Martin, Steiner ruled it out due to the presence of Adrian Newey and internal unhappiness after Horner’s departure from Red Bull following accusations of misconduct.
Steiner believes Aston Martin is well-positioned with their current team and doesn’t see a role for Horner there, especially considering the past tensions between Horner and Newey at Red Bull.
