Christian Horner provides F1 comeback update with intriguing hint

Christian Horner has hinted that his return to F1, if it ever comes to pass, could be with a brand new team, highlighting that there remains space on the grid for a 12th entry.

Horner, despite the interest and speculation surrounding his hypothetical comeback, insists he is "not in a rush" to find a new home in the F1 paddock.

The former Red Bull team principal, now 15 months removed from being fired by the Milton Keynes-based squad in July last year, has dominated headlines in recent weeks.

The 52-year-old has done the rounds in the media as he gears up for the book tour and release of his autobiography, Drive.

He set tails wagging over comments he made to The Times about the role of Ferrari team principal, having said the position was "the dream" job and that the Italian team was the only outfit in F1 he would consider joining without an ownership stake.

It instigated a flood of rumours that he would replace Fred Vasseur at the end of the year. Horner later clarified his remarks, but it garnered so much traction that the Scuderia took the highly unusual step of holding an impromptu press session in an attempt to set the record straight.

"It was all taken out of context because I was trying to be respectful to the Ferrari brand because they are different to other teams," the Briton told The Independent, further reiterating his stance.

"It's the longest-standing team and the most prominent team in Formula 1, and they’re not going to sell equity in it.

"It coincided with comments from drivers internally, and then you put two and two together and come up with eight."

Horner drops an intriguing clue

Horner has also been linked to management roles at Aston Martin and Alpine, after spending 20 years building Red Bull from scrappy, insurgent outliers into a paddock powerhouse.

He then offered perhaps his biggest hint yet about what his next move, and his F1 comeback, could look like.

"From my perspective, there's 11 teams in Formula 1," he added. "There's potentially a 12th entry."

"But I'm not in a rush to do anything."

Still yet to be provided with an ironclad explanation for being unceremoniously put out to pasture by his former team, aside from sharing that Helmut Marko said it had become "Christian Horner Racing" not "Red Bull Racing", it was recently revealed Horner received a £67 million payout upon his dismissal.

He achieved great success with the energy drinks manufacturer, amassing 14 world championships (eight drivers' titles and six constructors' crowns), 124 grand prix victories and 287 podiums over 405 races, but his next home needs to be the right one.

"Look, I've had a great run in the sport; I've got a healthy win ratio," Horner pointed out.

"It would have to be for the right project. I still love the sport. I enjoy the competition. I love working with people, but it would need to be the right team. Otherwise, I'm content doing what I'm doing at the moment."