Komatsu confirms Horner made Haas approach after Red Bull split
Christian Horner has sounded out Haas about a return to the Formula 1 pit wall, Ayao Komatsu has confirmed, though the American outfit isn’t rushing to open the door.
“Yes, it’s true that he approached us,” the Haas team boss said in Singapore. “One of our guys had an exploratory talk. Then that’s it. Nothing’s gone any further.” Komatsu added he didn’t want to “fuel” the story, but the direction of travel is telling: Horner is the one doing the calling.
Horner’s Red Bull sacking in July ended a two-decade run at the sharp end and left a conspicuous empty space on the grid. At 51, he’s not behaving like a man done with F1. If anything, the overture to Haas underlines how keen he is to re-enter the paddock quickly — even if it’s via an independent team still building its next chapter under Gene Haas.
The route back looks clearer after last week’s agreement with Red Bull over a reported $100m settlement to sever remaining ties, removing the contractual barbed wire that had wrapped around any comeback. And there’s a consistent theme in the whispers around Horner: he’s said to want a stake in whatever he does next, having previously pushed — unsuccessfully — for an equity position at Red Bull in the Toto Wolff mold at Mercedes.
Alpine and Aston Martin have been the two names most frequently linked to Horner since his exit. Aston team principal Andy Cowell, asked directly about the prospect of Horner joining, didn’t slam the door but made it plain he’s happy with what he has.
“Christian’s record speaks for itself — he’s a great competitor,” Cowell said in Singapore. “It’s down to Christian to work out what he wants to do. He might want to walk away from the sport, he might want to do something else in the sport, but that’s down to Christian, isn’t it?
“I think we’ve got a strong setup and we’re marching forward with that. We’re a relatively young team. We’ve got great facilities, we’re developing the tools. We’ve taken on strong people like Adrian [Newey], Enrico [Cardile]. And with Lawrence [Stroll]’s vision, and with the sponsorship revenues that are coming in, I think we’ve got a pretty strong team.”
A diplomatic answer, but read between the lines and Aston looks stocked where Horner would expect influence: Newey now on board, Cardile heading technical, Cowell leading the operation, Lawrence Stroll calling the shots. If Horner wants equity and autonomy, that’s a lot of furniture already arranged.
Which brings us back to Haas. On paper, it’s an unusual match — one of F1’s leanest operations with a long-time preference for buying in hardware and keeping headcount tight. On the other hand, it’s a clean sheet for a leader who can sell a project, attract partners and define standards. Horner built a title-winning juggernaut at Red Bull. Haas, meanwhile, is an independent with American backing and room for a reset. For the right price and the right promise, you can see why a conversation happened.
Just not much more than that, for now. Komatsu’s “exploratory” is doing heavy lifting. He’s stabilised the team since taking the reins and, publicly at least, doesn’t sound like a man craving a power shuffle mid-season. And Horner, even post-settlement, isn’t a plug-and-play hire — not if equity is a firm condition.
Still, with doors creaking across the paddock and 2026 changes looming, the market will keep testing the locks. Horner’s résumé guarantees that. The fact he’s already knocking suggests he’s not planning a quiet semi-retirement. Whether it’s Haas, Alpine, Aston Martin or a different vehicle entirely, this story hasn’t run its final lap.
