FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has issued a definitive statement regarding former F1 boss Christian Horner, asserting with conviction that he “will return to the sport”. This strong declaration from the head of motorsport’s global governing body arrives despite the fact that Horner was sacked by Red Bull last year.
Ben Sulayem’s remarks have drawn attention, partly due to comments perceived as controversial. He specifically suggested that, in the pursuit of success, individuals within the sport should ‘forget’ about ‘certain behaviours’ when an individual is demonstrably providing results.
Christian Horner’s Illustrious Era and Challenging Departure from Red Bull
Christian Horner’s tenure as team principal for Red Bull was extensive, spanning two decades from 2005 to 2025. This period was marked by extraordinary success, with Horner guiding the Milton Keynes-based outfit to secure an impressive 14 world championships, an achievement that cemented a glorious era for the team.
When Horner initially took the helm, Red Bull was in its formative stages, just commencing its journey as an F1 team. His leadership quickly proved transformative, as he successfully moulded them into a championship-winning outfit within a mere six seasons of taking charge.
However, this long and successful chapter concluded abruptly. Horner was sacked from his pivotal role following the 2025 British Grand Prix. At the precise moment of his departure, Red Bull found themselves positioned fourth in the constructors’ championship.
This sacking represented the culmination of what had been a notably tumultuous final 12 months for Horner within the team. This challenging period reportedly included a very public falling out with Max Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen. Furthermore, it was noted that Horner and his long-time Red Bull colleague, Helmut Marko, did not consistently see eye to eye, with disagreements surfacing between them at various times.
FIA President Ben Sulayem’s Endorsement and Philosophical View
The FIA president was directly approached and asked if he personally would like to witness Christian Horner’s return to Formula 1. In comments that were reported by the Oxford Mail, Ben Sulayem’s response was a straightforward and affirmative “Yes.”
He then expanded on his resolute certainty regarding Horner’s eventual return to the sport. Ben Sulayem stated with confidence: “He will get back. Where is not for me to say – even if I know. It is for him to say.” This suggested an insider knowledge while maintaining discretion about specific future roles.
Ben Sulayem proceeded to articulate a philosophy that appears to prioritise tangible results and delivery above certain personal attributes or actions. He explained his viewpoint, saying: “I am a believer that when you have a team, you have to forget about what this person is doing, his personality; do you want the result or not?”
He urged consideration of an individual’s track record, posing a series of rhetorical questions: “You look at his background. Please. Everybody makes mistakes, but did he deliver? What do you want? Do you want to win or not? Do you want to give it a try or not?”
The FIA president did, however, make a clear distinction between differing categories of conduct, differentiating between ‘behaviours’ and ‘bad behaviours’. He cautioned: “There is behaviours, and bad behaviours, and if you do bad behaviour it will catch on you, and nobody will want you.”
Further elaborating on his earlier, potentially controversial comments about ‘certain behaviours’, Ben Sulayem clarified his stance. He added: “But it is about results; you bring someone, you pay him millions to get results. Of course, he shouldn’t go and kill someone or drink and driving; that is bad behaviour, but I said certain behaviours.”
Christian Horner’s Current Stance and Emerging Future Speculation
Despite the FIA President’s very confident prediction regarding his return, Christian Horner himself offered a contrasting perspective when he spoke on the grid at Silverstone. He disclosed that he was currently ‘enjoying’ the downtime with his family.
Horner also explicitly indicated that a move for the 2027 season is unlikely to materialise, suggesting he is not actively planning an immediate re-entry into the high-pressure world of F1. Nevertheless, recent reports have actively linked Horner with a potential move to the Aston Martin team.
Such a move, if it were to transpire, could facilitate a notable reunion. It would see Horner working once again with design legend Adrian Newey, who famously left Red Bull in 2024 and subsequently joined Aston Martin.
The resolute assertion from Mohammed Ben Sulayem that Christian Horner “will get back” to the sport stands firm, even as Horner himself continues to speak of enjoying his current period away from the demanding and intensely competitive environment of Formula 1.