Christian Horner is in talks with Ferrari about taking over as their team principal, Daily Mail Sport can reveal.
The former Red Bull boss left his job at the Milton Keynes-based team with an £80million package a few weeks ago after being accused of ‘coercive behaviour’ towards a female employee, accusations he denied and was twice cleared of in internal hearings overseen by two KCs.
The reason for his departure – in July, more than a year on from the claims – was never explained to him, with Frenchman Laurent Mekies, previously of Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s junior team, taking over.
Horner, however, paid the woman involved £3m, as revealed by this paper. She is understood to have dropped her legal action against him. She has since taken up a different job in the sport at a team we cannot name for legal reasons.
He could have agreed an arrangement worth £110m with Red Bull, seeing him out to the end of his contract there that ran until 2030.
But he chose not to hold out for that, facilitating his attempt to return to the frontline next spring, as early as early as possible, in April of next year.
Christian Horner (right), pictured alongside wife Geri, is nearing a return to Formula One
Horner, seen speaking to Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur (right) in November last year, could replace him as Scuderia’s president John Elkann is not believed to have faith
The complainant at the centre of the dispute attended the Singapore Grand Prix less than a fortnight ago in her new role.
Horner, 51, husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, has not been at a race since the British Grand Prix on July 6. He was axed soon afterwards as part of what appeared to be an internal power struggle at Red Bull.
It ended his 20 years at the helm of the organisation he had marshalled to 14 world titles, eight drivers’ titles through Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, and six drivers’ titles.
He is seeking a way back into the paddock and his abilities are widely coveted, given his track record of success.
According to several sources, he is being wooed by Ferrari – as well as being in talks with other teams.
The Scuderia’s president John Elkann is not believed to have faith in his current team principal Fred Vasseur, who is overseeing a very ordinary season with drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton respectively fifth and sixth in the standings.
Friends of Horner have told Daily Mail Sport he is actively seeking a new job in F1 and is being courted by several teams. He has not commented on Ferrari’s interest.
