The return to Formula 1 of Christian Horner can take a rather surprising turn. One of the best team managers in recent times at Red Bull Racing is reportedly having conversations with the Chinese carmaker BYD about participating in Formula 1 by entering the circuit as its 12th team. Such negotiations generate additional interest among people associated with this motor racing competition as they involve a Formula 1 expert and a fast growing producer of electric cars. Indeed, Horner, who stopped working at Red Bull Racing in 2025, is trying to find ways to get back to this sport for some time now. Now, the deal with BYD can give him an opportunity not only to become just a team principal but also to create his own team.
Red Bull Racing’s former boss Christian Horner might be coming back to Formula 1 after a brief absence through cooperation with Chinese company BYD. According to reports, Christian Horner had a talk with Stella Li – one of BYD executives – while on vacation in France on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival.
Entry as a 12th Team
One of the most important aspects here is BYD’s intention to enter Formula 1 not by investing in any existing team but rather becoming a whole new team for the first time ever. Horner allegedly likes this approach more than being part of a minority investor in Alpine since the latter would not be enough for him to have full control over the operation. It should be added that at the moment, Horner is no longer under a non-compete clause with his former employer due to having ended his contract there. Apparently, he considered a 24% stake in Alpine owned by Otro Capital but Renault’s leadership did not approve of this.
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On the other hand, a team with BYD’s backing will encounter many obstacles. Currently, there are eleven teams in the sport and one more will be joining them next year (Cadillac). Therefore, any twelfth team must obtain permission from both FIA and Formula One Management. Nevertheless, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has voiced his support for getting a Chinese manufacturer to enter Formula 1 for commercial reasons on multiple occasions.
Why BYD Makes Sense
A rise in BYD’s global footprint makes F1 a good fit. The firm is among the largest producers of electrical and hybrid cars in the world, with expansion plans in Europe and several other markets. The introduction of new rules for Formula 1 in 2026 that make hybrid technology essential aligns with BYD’s technology direction as well. Indeed, BYD has shown a willingness to get involved in F1 before. Recently, Stella Li indicated that she had talked about Formula 1 with F1 chief Stefano Domenicali when he was at the Chinese Grand Prix race weekend. Stella Li described Formula 1 as a global brand that is built on passion, culture and technology.
Moreover, financially, BYD has the clout to sustain such a project. Sources suggest that the company has an estimated worth of $125 billion. This should be enough financial backing to create a sustainable project over time. Horner’s expertise in creating the Red Bull team will be of great help as well.
The Ron Dennis Warning
However, not everyone sees it that way. According to some people, Horner’s story can be paralleled with that of Ron Dennis, the ex-chief of McLaren. In 2014, Dennis tried to regain power within the team but failed to make it competitive again. His subsequent attempt to involve China led to internal disputes that eventually caused him to leave the company after many years.
Horner is likely to face a similar fate, according to some observers. The creation of an F1 team under new regulations in 2026 would be incredibly hard. No matter how much money would be poured into the project, new teams usually take years to catch up with established ones.
