Christian Horner approaches a year since his shocking Red Bull departure, having received a £75m payout but taking less money for a quicker return to F1. After 20 years overseeing two periods of Red Bull dominance with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, Horner now explores paths back to the sport.

Alpine presents the most direct route back, with Horner part of a group interested in buying the 24% stake owned by Otro Capital. Mercedes, led by Toto Wolff, also seeks the stake, creating a battle that could be influenced by McLaren's Zak Brown, who opposes Mercedes-Alpine alliances.

Alternatively, Horner's meeting with BYD suggests a potential new team venture, though this would require building from scratch rather than joining an established outfit. His recent appearances at Moto GP and Formula E events indicate active networking, though he remains selective about his return, seeking the right project rather than any role.