Cowell: Horner ‘ringing up every team owner at the moment’

Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner appears to be on a mission to secure a Formula 1 comeback, with Aston Martin’s Andy Cowell revealing that the 51-year-old has been in touch with “pretty much every team owner” on the grid.

Horner, who officially parted ways with Red Bull last month after two very successful decades at the helm of the Milton Keynes-based outfit, has reportedly been exploring his next move in the sport.

His sudden availability has set paddock gossip ablaze, with several team bosses acknowledging that his name has surfaced in recent conversations.

On Thursday in Singapore, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu revealed that his outfit had received an approach from Horner, describing it as an “exploratory” conversation.

Cowell, who took over the reins at Aston Martin earlier this year, was asked about Horner’s situation twice – and his tone noticeably shifted between Thursday and Friday.

Initially, he appeared to leave the door ajar, suggesting the team was aware of Horner’s interest but not dismissing the idea entirely. By the following day, however, his stance was far more definitive.

“I had a chat with Lawrence this morning to find out what he knows,” Cowell said on Friday, referring to team owner Lawrence Stroll. “It looks as though Christian’s ringing up pretty much every team owner at the moment.

“I can clearly say there are no plans for involvement of Christian either in an operational or investment role in the future,” he added.

A Horner move to Aston Martin would have reunited him with Adrian Newey, the legendary car designer whose creations powered Red Bull’s dominance. But Cowell’s comments appear to rule out any such reunion – at least for now.

Alpine and Williams play down speculation

Horner’s close ties with Alpine consultant Flavio Briatore have also sparked rumors linking him to the Enstone-based team. Yet Alpine’s new managing director, Steve Nielsen, insisted there’s nothing of substance behind the whispers.

“But Flavio and Christian are old friends,” Nielsen said. “That’s no secret. What they’ve talked about I don’t know.

“Everything I see and everything I know is there’s no truth in Christian coming to Alpine. But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. This is Formula 1 after all.”

Williams team principal James Vowles, meanwhile, confirmed that his squad had not been approached but was philosophical about the idea of talking to a figure of Horner’s stature.

“You should always welcome a conversation, there’s no point closing the door,” he said.

“But 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.”

• Read also: Horner to Aston Martin? Cowell keeps cards close to chest

Having been at the head of one of Formula 1’s most successful dynasties, Horner’s future remains a topic of fascination up and down the pit lane. His ambition to return is clear — and his phone calls, it seems, are keeping the entire paddock guessing.

Whether any of those calls lead to a deal remains to be seen. But as one team principal quipped privately in Singapore, “You never really count Christian Horner out for long.”

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