Aston Martin has received a warning regarding the potential appointment of former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. The Silverstone-based outfit has been linked with Horner since his departure from Red Bull in July 2025.
Horner was dismissed from his role at Red Bull Racing following the British Grand Prix last season. He has since expressed a desire to return to Formula 1, stating he has ‘unfinished business’ in the sport.
Despite previous speculation linking him to Aston Martin, reports from March 2026 indicated that Horner was out of contention for a leadership position with the team. He is reportedly exploring an investment in Alpine.
Some F1 analysts suggest that even if Horner were to join Aston Martin, the team’s underlying issues are significant and extend beyond a change in team principal.
Adrian Newey, a prominent figure from Red Bull’s past, assumed the role of Team Principal and Managing Technical Partner at Aston Martin from the beginning of the 2026 season. He officially joined the team in March 2025.
Aston Martin has experienced a challenging 2026 season, with performance issues attributed partly to a late start on the AMR26 car’s development. The team only placed a model of the 2026 car in the wind tunnel in mid-April 2025.
Further difficulties have arisen from the Honda power unit, which Newey claimed the team only discovered was struggling in November 2025. This contributed to Aston Martin’s difficult start to the year.
The team is set to debut a significant B-spec upgrade for its AMR26 car at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix. This update represents a shift in strategy, focusing on a single, substantial package rather than incremental developments.
In separate news, Paul Monaghan, a key figure within Red Bull, has returned to the paddock for the Hungarian Grand Prix. His presence marks his return after a recent absence from the team’s trackside operations.
