P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ferrari tipped to steer clear of signing Christian Horner: ‘They don’t want distractions’
F1 legend Riccardo Patrese is confident that Ferrari will not pursue Christian Horner as a potential team principal in the future, despite Horner’s recent departure from Red Bull.
Horner, who oversaw Red Bull’s successful eras in F1 with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, faced criticism and ultimately got dismissed due to declining performance and internal issues.
Speculation on Horner’s next move includes a potential link-up with Flavio Briatore at Alpine, but Ferrari’s interest in him has also been mentioned.
Patrese believes Ferrari will stay away from Horner to protect their brand image, especially amidst recent criticism and inconsistency in results.
Adrian Newey’s departure from Red Bull in 2025 is highlighted as a key factor in the team’s performance decline, as finding a replacement for the legendary designer has proven challenging.
Patrese emphasizes the importance of Newey’s influence and engineering prowess, suggesting that his absence may have contributed significantly to Red Bull’s struggles.
