Christian Horner to Alpine backed as Flavio Briatore told 'time is over':
— Speculation is rife about Christian Horner potentially joining Alpine, with Ralf Schumacher asserting that the era of figures like Flavio Briatore has ended. Schumacher remarked:
“I think the time of figures like Flavio is over. You need tech-savvy people at the top, someone like Horner.”
— Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today (Wednesday 9 July 2025) and has appointed Laurent Mekies as CEO of Red Bull Racing.
— Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motorsport advisor, attributed Horner's departure to several factors, primarily performance issues.
— As Horner missed his first race in over two decades at the Belgian Grand Prix, rumors swirled about his potential return to Formula 1 with Alpine.
— Bernie Ecclestone, Horner's friend and former F1 supremo, speculated on Horner's future in F1, suggesting ownership as a barrier:
“I don't know how or where, or whether he wants to. Probably doesn't want to. Because the position he really wanted at Red Bull was to own part of the team.”
“Unless he gets somebody to put the money up to buy a team, can't see it happening.”
— Ralf Schumacher further commented on the potential fit for Horner at Alpine, suggesting Briatore's role could shift:
“Flavio could then help as an organiser and networker, as a face to the outside world.”