Christian Horner is still waiting to choose his next move (Image: Kym Illman, Getty Images)

Christian Horner could make a stunning comeback next year and attempt to transform another struggling Formula One team into championship contenders – but only if he secures total control. That’s the verdict from his former Red Bull colleague Mark Gallagher, who witnessed the Brit’s remarkable transformation job from the very beginning.

Horner was merely 31 when Red Bull handed him the reins of the faltering team they had just purchased in late 2004. Across more than two decades at the helm, he masterminded a remarkable turnaround that delivered six constructors’ championships and eight drivers’ titles. The extraordinary journey concluded in July when he was dismissed as team principal and, earlier this week, he secured an £80million settlement to terminate his contract, which was due to run until 2030.

Significantly, it’s believed the agreement also permits him to make a Formula One comeback from an undisclosed date in the opening half of next season. “If Christian returns to F1, I believe it will be with a team willing to either give him control or sell to him in partnership with a group of investors,” former Red Bull commercial chief Gallagher told Mirror Sport, via Betway.

“The identity of the team is less important than the terms he can secure – whether it’s a backmarker or a midfield outfit, Christian will only return to F1 if he has control or ownership. We’ll likely need to see how the 2026 season unfolds. One or two things may happen: a manufacturer team might have a disappointing year and begin questioning its car strategy.

“If you’re in a boardroom trying to fix that, you would inevitably talk about the fact that F1’s most successful team principal is sitting on the sidelines. That’s one route. Another is that one of the weaker teams decides, sooner rather than later, that a restructure is needed – and, suddenly, Christian finds himself with a viable opportunity.”

Christian Horner received a bumper pay-off from Red Bull (Image: Getty)

Gallagher reckons there are two squads in particular that would prove perfect destinations for his former colleague. He continued: “Sooner or later, the Haas team will need to bring in another partner to grow. Gene Haas has done as much as could be expected of an independent owner, but the team needs a stronger structure to compete with the manufacturers.

“The other obvious team is Alpine, which has had a difficult year. The team is about to enter a new season with customer engines and is currently led by Flavio Briatore who, it must be said, isn’t getting any younger. Surely, he recognises that the future of Alpine may involve Renault selling part or all of their remaining stake? Christian has a mutual friendship with Bernie Ecclestone, and for me, those are the two most likely routes for his return.”

Horner’s compensation package of approximately £80 million represents a considerably larger amount than the wages he would have received between now and his Red Bull contract’s conclusion in 2030.