Christian Horner returned to the spotlight by starting a new business partnership, while rumors about his return to the Formula 1 grid continue to grow. The former Red Bull Racing boss took on a consultancy role at Oakley Capital, an investment company focused on the premium sports sector.
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The move comes amid speculation about a possible return of the Briton to the category. Horner was dismissed from Red Bull last season, shortly after the British GP, but has been linked to both Alpine and a possible new team from the Chinese manufacturer BYD for the future in Formula 1.
The executive made history by becoming the youngest team principal in Formula 1 when he took over Red Bull in 2005. During his tenure, he led the transformation of the team into one of the dominant forces in the category, accumulating titles and victories with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
Under his leadership, Red Bull Racing achieved 124 wins and eight driver titles, split between Vettel and Verstappen, as well as six constructors’ championships. Horner also directly participated in the creation of Red Bull Powertrains-Ford, the team’s power unit division, which debuted this year, and Red Bull Advanced Technologies.
The team generated more than US$ 3 billion in commercial revenue during the period Horner was in charge, driven by global partnerships and sponsorship agreements. While the paddock awaits news about a possible return to Formula 1, the Briton now starts a new project off the track.
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“Sports businesses are benefiting from the growth of global audiences and people’s participation, as more individuals adopt active and healthy lifestyles,” Horner said. “I have known and respected Peter (Dubens) and the Oakley team for many years and have always admired their approach to building ambitious founder-led companies,” he said.
The former Red Bull executive also highlighted that he intends to use his motorsport experience to help grow new sports businesses: “Oakley Capital has established a strong reputation in the sports and consumer scene, and I look forward to working together and sharing my experience to support the next generation of leading sports companies,” he added.
Peter Dubens, founder and managing partner of Oakley Capital, celebrated Horner’s arrival at the group: “Christian Horner is widely recognized as an extremely successful leader in global sport. His track record, experience, and commercial instinct will be valuable as we continue expanding our sports portfolio,” the executive added.
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