It is not clear what former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner will do following his sacking from the Austrian team. Reports were linking the 51-year-old to possibly link up with former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone and buy a share of Alpine.
However, Ecclestone, not one to mince his words, has poured cold water over the prospect. While doing so, he even jibed at seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in the process.
Bernie Ecclestone dismisses Alpine talks with Lewis Hamilton dig
Reports claimed that Christian Horner and Bernie Ecclestone will team up in order to purchase shares in Alpine. The French team is languishing at the bottom of the championship and could do with some much-needed help.
Sky Sports F1 asked Ecclestone if these rumours were accurate. The 94-year-old replied: “I think there is more chance of Lewis winning his eighth title than that happening.”
🗣️ “I had made it known that it was maybe a little bit ruthless”
Bernie Ecclestone on Christian Horner’s Red Bull exit and Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari ❌ pic.twitter.com/JhvgnKNYus
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) August 3, 2025
He then added, “I think Lewis has done a fantastic job. He’s still super talented. I think maybe he ought to sort of move over a little bit. It’d be terrible if something happened to him now. That’s what’s bad.”
Lewis Hamilton joined Ferrari to challenge for an unprecedented eighth world championship. This season, Ferrari and Hamilton have been too inconsistent and not fast enough to win races. Hamilton has not adapted to the ground-effect era, but 2026 gives him a fresh chance with the new regulation cycle.
Bernie Ecclestone comments on Christian Horner’s future
Bernie Ecclestone and Christian Horner won’t be teaming up to buy shares in Alpine. However, Ecclestone has shed light on Horner’s future in the sport, but doesn’t believe the Brit will return as a team principal.
Ecclestone commented: “I don’t know how and 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, I can’t see it happening.”
Ecclestone also believes that the way Red Bull acted was a “bit ruthless“, adding, “They didn’t have much choice. They decided this is what they were going to do, and that’s it. They had to get on and do it.”
Max Verstappen Reveals the Real Reason Red Bull Parted Ways With Christian Horner
Red Bull is yet to disclose why it parted ways with Horner. The results in 2025 hadn’t been good enough, and the people brought in to replace big names like Adrian Newey weren’t working as well. This was all amid allegations against Horner, and his position was becoming untenable. Red Bull acted decisively to prepare for 2026 in a direction without Horner.
