Oakley Capital has recruited Christian Horner as an adviser to scout premium sports investments. Horner, who departed Red Bull Racing last July after 19 years as team principal, will help identify opportunities across the sports and consumer landscape while weighing his next move in motorsport.

The former F1 boss left Red Bull with a reported £80m payoff following his controversial exit. This advisory role gives Horner a foothold in private equity while speculation continues about a potential return to Formula One in an operational capacity.

Oakley, founded by Peter Dubens, targets pan-European businesses with enterprise values between €100m and €1bn. The firm has been steadily assembling a sports portfolio, though specific holdings weren't disclosed in the announcement.

This appointment reflects growing private equity appetite for premium sports assets, as firms seek to capitalize on the sector's commercial expansion and global broadcasting revenues. Oakley gains immediate credibility in motorsport circles while Horner maintains flexibility for his eventual F1 comeback.