F1 Q&A: Christian Horner, Red Bull, Verstappens, Alpine, Hulkenberg, Sauber and wet tyres

Do you assume Christian Horner will be part of Alpine as group principal? He is apparently an ideal pal of [executive adviser] Flavio Briatore. – Carol

Since Horner was faraway from his place at Crimson Bull, there have been options in some quarters that he could be very engaging to a variety of different groups in F1.

Alpine is one concept that’s doing the rounds, though they’ve simply signed Steve Nielsen as managing director – ie, de facto group principal – to start out work in September.

Ferrari has come up once more. And there’s the query of whether or not he might return as a co-owner someplace – Alpine, for instance, is alleged to have a couple of 20% shareholding up on the market.

However is Horner as engaging an choice as some have instructed?

He has been a really profitable group principal at Crimson Bull – the group have received eight drivers’ titles, six constructors’ titles and 124 grands prix below his management.

And there’s no query that Crimson Bull below Horner had a fleetness of foot and improvisational aggression that very often left their rivals trailing.

However any group desirous to make use of him should weigh that in opposition to potential downsides, a lot of which have been concerned within the causes for Crimson Bull eradicating him.

Firstly, Horner usually desires whole management. However you’ll be able to’t have whole management as a group principal if the group you might be operating is a part of a wider firm.

So, at Alpine, for instance, he would finally be answerable to Renault’s board. At Ferrari, to chairman John Elkann and chief govt Benedetto Vigna. In the end, the ability would relaxation with them, not Horner. May he abdomen that?

Then there’s the query as as to if a single chief continues to be as impactful in F1 lately.

Have a look at McLaren, for instance, and the success they’ve had with chief govt officer Zak Brown in cost, however focusing primarily on the industrial aspect, and Andrea Stella as group principal with accountability for operating the group itself.

Horner wished to do all that – and extra – himself.

Then there’s the truth that Crimson Bull have been clearly in decline below Horner.

A Horner-led Crimson Bull with out design chief Adrian Newey has not seemed wherever close to the pressure it was.

After which there are the allegations nonetheless hanging over Horner.

Crimson Bull may need cleared him in two separate inner investigations. However outdoors Crimson Bull there was no conclusion to that episode. Till the result of that’s recognized, any firm that employs Horner is taking a big reputational danger.