Ben Sulayem fires up Horner comeback rumours: ‘He will get back’

Christian Horner’s Formula 1 return rumours have just received a heavyweight endorsement from an the president of the FIA.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem has suggested that the former Red Bull team principal – the man behind one of F1’s most dominant modern teams – will be back in the sport sooner rather than later.

Horner’s sudden departure from Red Bull a year ago brought an end to one of the most successful partnerships in Formula 1 history.

During his tenure in Milton Keynes, he helped transform the team into a powerhouse, overseeing six Constructors’ Championships and eight Drivers’ titles before officially cutting ties with the organisation in 2025.

But despite being away from the grid, Horner’s name has remained firmly in circulation. His first return to a Formula 1 paddock came during last weekend’s British Grand Prix, and the visit inevitably reignited speculation over what his next move could be.

Asked whether he was excited by the prospect of Horner returning to F1, Ben Sulayem gave a simple answer: “Yes.”

Pressed further on whether he believed a comeback was likely, the FIA president appeared confident that Horner’s time away from the sport would not last indefinitely.

“He will get back. Where is not for me to say – even if I know, it is for him to say,” he added.

Ben Sulayem also argued that Horner’s record of achievement should not be overshadowed by the controversy surrounding his exit from Red Bull, pointing instead to the results delivered during his leadership.

“You look at his background, everyone makes mistakes. But did he deliver?” he asked. “What do you want? Do you want to win or not?”

‘If you can’t do it to win, why bother?’ – Horner lays down comeback terms

That winning mentality is also at the centre of Horner’s own thinking as he weighs his options.

Since leaving Red Bull, the Briton has been linked with several potential opportunities, most notably Alpine, where speculation has suggested he could become involved through a possible investment route connected to the Enstone team.

However, Horner has insisted that any return would only happen under the right circumstances.

Speaking to The Times after his Silverstone appearance, he made clear that he is not interested in simply stepping into another role for the sake of being back in the paddock.

“Every week there’s somebody speculating that I’m going somewhere. It’s flattering that people still talk about you,” he said.

“It’s inevitable that conversations happen, but until very recently, I’ve not been able to do anything.

“I’m now technically a free agent – which was always important to me when I left Red Bull, not to be locked down for too long a period.

• Read also: Verstappen reveals ‘weekly’ conversations with Horner

“I have no interest in just being a number in a machine,” he said.

“I’ve more than demonstrated what I’m capable of doing, and if I go back, it would only be in a position where you were empowered to make a change, to drive difference, to win.

“I know that I would become very frustrated very quickly doing anything else. If you can’t do it to win, why bother?”

With Horner now free to explore opportunities and Ben Sulayem publicly backing the idea of a return, the speculation surrounding one of Formula 1’s most influential figures is unlikely to fade.

The biggest question is no longer whether Horner wants to come back—but whether a team will offer him the kind of power and ambition he believes is required to win again.

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