Christian Horner is said to be a contender for the Aston Martin team principal position following rumors of Andy Cowell’s potential dismissal after the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The 56-year-old former Red Bull chief has been eyeing a return to Formula 1 since leaving in July.
After a challenging Las Vegas GP, RacingNews365 reported that Cowell’s tenure at Aston Martin was in jeopardy due to the team’s struggles, currently sitting in seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship, just eight points ahead of Sauber in ninth. The report suggested Andreas Seidl, a former McLaren and Sauber figure, as the frontrunner for the role.
BBC Sport also indicated that Horner is being considered as a replacement for Cowell. Having been linked to various teams post his departure, including Ferrari, Haas, and Alpine, this opportunity could mark a significant comeback for Horner.
Speculation about Horner joining Aston Martin emerged before the Singapore Grand Prix but was swiftly denied by Cowell, who stated that there were no plans involving Horner in any operational or investment capacity at the team.
If Horner does join Aston Martin, it would lead to a reunion with rival Zak Brown, who had criticized Horner before the Las Vegas triple-header season finale, expressing changes in Horner’s demeanor over the years.
Notably, Red Bull, Horner’s former team, achieved success in Las Vegas as Max Verstappen secured victory, keeping his Drivers’ Championship hopes alive. Verstappen overtook pole-sitter Lando Norris at the start and dominated the race, winning with a comfortable 20-second margin.
However, both McLaren cars faced disqualification post-race after failing FIA inspections, resulting in the four-time world champion trailing Norris by just 24 points as they head to the upcoming race in Qatar.