Audi has ruled out the possibility of hiring Christian Horner as the new team principal in Formula 1, despite several recent rumors. Speculation gained momentum following comments from former driver Juan Pablo Montoya, but the German team does not consider the former Red Bull Racing executive as an option.
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This discussion arose after the departure of Jonathan Wheatley, which opened the search for a new team principal for Audi’s project in the category. However, besides not being in the team’s plans, Horner himself would also not show interest in the position under current circumstances.
Montoya had pointed to the Briton as the ideal candidate to take on the role. In an interview with TalkSPORT, the former driver highlighted the former executive’s experience: “They (Audi) need someone like Christian. I think people underestimate what he has done, for how long he has done it, and what he has achieved. You may like him or not, but he can deliver,” he stated.
Despite the praise, Audi does not consider Horner as a replacement for Wheatley, according to released information. Furthermore, the current scenario would also not be attractive to the former Red Bull Racing boss, who would be interested in taking on a role with an equity stake, rather than just an executive position.
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This point would be a major obstacle, as Audi keeps virtually all of the team’s shares under its control. Only a small stake belongs to the Qatar Investment Authority, and the German manufacturer has always made it clear that it intends to maintain control of the project without sharing power with new investors.
Mattia Binotto, who is the team director, has temporarily taken over the duties left by Wheatley while a decision is pending. The Italian, however, does not intend to remain in the position permanently, which keeps the team searching for a long-term solution.
At the moment, the most likely scenario is that the responsibilities of the team principal role will be distributed internally among different members of the structure. This alternative would allow Audi to maintain stability while evaluating future decisions for its Formula 1 organization.
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