FIA president backs Christian Horner for F1 return

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has expressed confidence that Christian Horner will find his way back into Formula 1.

Horner was relieved of his duties as Red Bull team principal and CEO following the 2025 British Grand Prix, with Laurent Mekies eventually stepping in as his replacement. 

A formal severance agreement was reached in September 2025, ending a 20-year tenure that yielded six constructors' championships.

Since his exit, Horner has largely stayed away from the F1 paddock, taking on an advisory role with London-based private equity firm Oakley Capital and working on a memoir. Horner has also made visits to MotoGP and Formula E this year.

For the first time since his Red Bull exit, Horner returned to the F1 paddock at last weekend's British Grand Prix, almost a year on from his departure.

Asked if he is keen to see Horner back in the sport, Ben Sulayem replied as quoted by ESPN: "Yes."

Pushed on if he thinks it will happen, Ben Sulayem added: "He will get back. Where is not for me to say -- even if I know. It is for him to say."

Horner's F1 results

The FIA president went further, arguing that Horner's track record of success should take priority over the controversy that surrounded his Red Bull exit.

Horner's exit came amid rumours of a power struggle following the saddening death of Red Bull co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz, while he also underwent an investigation into misconduct allegations.

"I am a believer that when you have a team you have to forget about what this person is doing, his personality, do you want the result or not?" continued the FIA president.

"You look at his background. Please. Everybody makes mistakes, but did he deliver? What do you want? Do you want to win or not? Do you want to give it a try or not?

"There is behaviours, and bad behaviours, and if you do bad behaviour it will catch on you and nobody will want you.

"But it is about results, you bring someone, you pay him millions to get results. Of course, he shouldn't go and kill someone, or drink and driving, that is bad behaviour but I said certain behaviours."