Lawrence Stroll Dismisses Christian Horner at Aston Martin
Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll has confirmed to employees that Christian Horner, former Red Bull boss, will not be joining the Formula 1 team in any capacity. This is confirmed by sources close to the matter. It is understood that the Canadian billionaire informed staff at the Silverstone factory on Wednesday that Horner’s incorporation “definitely will not happen.” Sources present corroborated this. Stroll made these statements during the announcement of the team’s new leadership structure, which saw Adrian Newey, F1 design legend, join as a shareholder and technical managing partner, assuming the role of team principal. Andy Cowell, who currently holds that position, will move to a role related to engines with the new Honda suppliers. Newey’s move surprised many and came alongside new reports after the Las Vegas Grand Prix indicating that Horner, who was let go by Red Bull in July, was the candidate to replace Cowell. Horner recently reached an agreement with Red Bull that would allow him to return to the sport in mid-2026. Sources close to Horner indicate that he remains committed to acquiring a stake in one of the F1 teams, rather than simply returning as a traditional team principal, as he was at Red Bull. Horner was fired from that position when he lost the support of Red Bull’s main shareholders, a fate he wants to avoid by seeking another role. Horner and Newey worked together for 19 years at Red Bull, contributing to the team’s periods of dominance, the first in the early 2010s and the second at the beginning of this decade.Although some reports suggest a rift between the two, sources indicate that this is not the case; they are known to have recently attended an Oasis concert together with their wives.
The role of Newey’s team principal has raised doubts about whether Aston Martin might need a CEO to oversee the entire operation. McLaren CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella are the best example of that model on the current grid. Stroll’s comments suggest that Horner is not in Aston Martin’s plans at the moment, although other sources close to Horner have suggested that a possible union with Aston Martin is not completely ruled out. Stroll has invested heavily in the Aston Martin project to turn the team into a championship contender under the new regulations that will come into effect in 2026, which present major changes in the aerodynamics and engines of the cars. If Aston Martin were completely ruled out, Alpine would be the other most logical place where Horner could acquire a stake and return.
