Christian Horner lands billionaire backers as 12th F1 team eyed and comeback date emerges

Christian Horner could reportedly return to Formula One, heading a 12th team alongside a series of wealthy investors. The idea allegedly has the support of F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem ahead of a prospective comeback date of April 2026.

Horner was sacked by Red Bull after a legendary 20-year stay in Milton Keynes that produced a combined 14 Drivers' and Constructors' Championship titles. Since then, the 51-year-old has been linked with numerous teams, including Ferrari, Aston Martin, Alpine and Haas. However, his most eventual route back into the sport could come at the head of a new F1 squad.

According to a new report from The Times, Horner, who will be able to work in the paddock again from April following his contract settlement, has been contacted by a series of mega-rich investors, who will provide enough backing to fund a £1.5billion purchase of an existing team.

The difficulty Horner is facing, though, is a reluctance to sell. While a collaboration with Aston Martin is reportedly still on the table, many owners are reluctant to hand over significant stakes in their organisations ahead of the 2026 regulation changes, as the sport is still undergoing a period of intense growth.

Therefore, Horner could look to head up his own F1 team. Cadillac are already joining the grid in 2026, expanding the grid to 11, and Domenicali and Ben Sulayem are supposedly not opposed to the former Red Bull boss returning in this manner.

While The Times' report insists that Horner could still reunite with former Red Bull ally Adrian Newey at Aston Martin, incumbent team principal Andy Cowell has confidently dismissed the reports linking him with a move to Team Silverstone.

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"Had a chat with Lawrence this morning to find out what he knows," he said in Singapore. "It looks as though Christian's ringing up pretty much every team owner at the moment, so you can pass the question along."

Horner has also been linked with a sensational switch to Ferrari. However, the Scuderia's president, John Elkann, published a statement ahead of the United States Grand Prix, distancing his team from a move away from Fred Vasseur.

Lewis Hamilton also dismissed the speculation. "I don't know where the rumours have come from, so I can't really shed much light on that," he said in Austin. "These things naturally aren't helpful. I know everyone back at the factory is working incredibly hard, focused, and these sorts of rumours can sometimes be distracting."