Formula 1 is feeling the absence of Christian Horner, and the sport's top official is making no secret of it. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has openly stated that he believes the paddock misses the former Red Bull team principal, who is actively exploring a return to the sport following his dismissal last summer.

Horner, 52, was the driving force behind Red Bull's unprecedented success for two decades, steering the team to an incredible 14 Formula 1 world championships. His sacking sent shockwaves through the motorsport world, but it seems the British executive isn't ready to walk away from the track just yet.

Rumors are swirling about where Horner might land next. He's been linked with Alpine—where he's reportedly part of a consortium bidding for a minority stake—as well as Aston Martin and even Ferrari. The speculation has only intensified after Ben Sulayem revealed he recently dined with Horner and his longtime rival, McLaren's Zak Brown.

"Who can remove Christian Horner's name from motorsport and Formula 1? You can't," Ben Sulayem told media in Miami. "It was always successful. But success also has enemies, as we know. If you ask me, we miss him in this sport and I do. I keep in touch with him. He was good for the team, good for the sport."

The FIA president's warm endorsement didn't stop there. "We would welcome him back, and someone like him will always find his way. I always say to him, 'you talk too much, but you don't mean anything bad.' He has a clean heart. And he wants to come back. When he comes back, it will be like he went for a vacation."

Horner's desire to return isn't just about being a team principal—he's also keen on owning a stake in whichever team he joins. This ambition makes a move to Ferrari unlikely, despite the rumors, but opens the door for opportunities at teams like Alpine or Aston Martin. The latter connection is especially intriguing, given Horner spent nearly two decades working alongside Aston's team principal and design legend Adrian Newey at Red Bull.

At a public event in Dublin back in January, Horner acknowledged he has "unfinished business" in Formula 1. With the FIA president openly backing his return and multiple teams circling, it seems only a matter of time before the paddock sees him again—this time, perhaps, in a new role that blends his leadership with ownership ambitions.