CHRISTIAN HORNER is in shock talks with Ferrari over a return to Formula One, according to reports.
Horner, 51, was sacked as the team principal of Red Bull following a poor performance at the British Grand Prix in July.
ReutersChristian Horner is in shock talks with Ferrari over a return to F1[/caption]
GettyA Horner move to Ferrari could see him paired up with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc[/caption]
He was then handed an £80million severance package as he left the team after 20 years of service which yielded a staggering 14 world titles.
These include six Constructors’ Championships and eight World Drivers’ Championships won four times apiece by Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
However, the F1 titan has been in top gear trying to negotiate a way back into the paddock.
Speaking at the Singapore Grand Prix, Aston Martin team principal, Andy Cowell, joked: “It looks as though Christian is ringing up every team owner at the moment.”
And according to the Daily Mail, Horner has now entered discussions to join F1’s most successful constructor, Ferrari.
Several sources claim Horner is being wooed by the Scuderia.
The Italian manufacturer last won a drivers title in 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen, while their last constructors title arrived in 2008.
Horner’s track record of success means his abilities to build a winning team are highly coveted in the ultra-competitive environment of F1.
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The report claims Ferrari president John Elkann has lost faith in current team principal Fred Vasseur, who was a key reason behind Lewis Hamilton‘s move to the team.
Hamilton, 40, is yet to score even a podium following the stunning transfer from Mercedes, where he won six of his seven world titles.
Team-mate Charles Leclerc has scored four podiums so far this season, but likewise is having an overall underwhelming season amid Ferrari’s on-track troubles.
Talks between Horner and several teams were confirmed at most recent F1 race, but four outfits – Haas, Williams, Aston Martin and Alpine – shot down rumours of him joining them.
Horner’s £80m payout has placed him on gardening leave from the Milton Keynes team.
SunSport understands he will be able to join another team in the spring of next year.
Last year, Horner was investigated and cleared in a sexting scandal which saw him accused of misconduct against an unnamed female colleague, an allegation he always strongly denied.
The woman was suspended on full pay from Red Bull HQ amid claims her “honesty was called into question.”
She was back in the F1 paddock at the Singapore Grand Prix working for an unspecified team after agreeing a £3m settlement with Red Bull.
Insiders claim the eye-watering payout will see her drop all allegations against Horner.
