Christian Horner gets final Aston Martin verdict as Lawrence Stroll ‘chat’ revealed | F1 | Sport
Aston Martin team principal Andy Cowell shut down speculation linking Christian Horner with a move to his organisation, citing a conversation with owner Lawrence Stroll ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. Horner was dumped by Red Bull after the British Grand Prix in July and, after a few months away from the Formula One paddock, is already being linked with a spectacular return to the sport.
Cowell was asked about contact with Horner after the second practice session in Singapore. The former Red Bull boss has reportedly smoothed over relations with Adrian Newey, who is spearheading the design of Aston Martin’s first challenger for the new technical regulations in 2026. This means that one of the major hurdles preventing a move to Team Silverstone has been removed.
“I had a chat with Lawrence this morning to find out what he knows,” Cowell explained on Friday when asked if Horner could join Aston Martin in the near future.
“It looks as though Christian is ringing up pretty much every team owner at the moment, so you can pass the question along. And I can clearly say, there are no plans for involvement, either in an operational or investment role in the future.”
Cowell’s declaration follows suit from Haas, who shut down talk of a move for Horner earlier this week. Team principal Ayao Komatsu confirmed that conversations took place between the 51-year-old and the Kannapolis-based squad, but that they would not be progressing further.
“Yes, it’s true that he approached us,” Komatsu revealed to the media in Singapore. “And then one of our guys had an exploratory, let’s say, a talk. Then that’s it. Then nothing’s gone any further.”
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Horner is unlikely to add Williams to his list of potential F1 return destinations, either. “I think you should always welcome a conversation,” James Vowles said in the post-FP1 team principal press conference.
“There’s no point in closing the door. But I think we are, not I think, we’re very happy with the structure we have, and it’s working. So I don’t see any reason to make any changes to that.”
The name that has been most often mentioned in conversations about Horner’s F1 future is Alpine. Managing director Steve Nielsen refused to disclose details of talks with the former Red Bull boss, but did point to the Brit’s historic relationship with Flavio Briatore.
“As far as I know, no,” he explained. “Flavio and Christian are old friends. That’s no secret. What they’ve talked about, I don’t know. Everything I see and everything I know, there’s no truth in Christian coming to Alpine. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen. This is Formula 1 after all.”
