Former F1 team principal Christian Horner was seen at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend, attending his first MotoGP event since 2005.
Horner, who attended as a guest of MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group (formerly Dorna Sports), was also seen having dinner with the company’s CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta, on Friday night.
Horner’s appearance comes after he departed from Red Bull Racing. While he has been linked to various roles within Formula 1, nothing has materialised so far. Martin Brundle recently mentioned MotoGP as a potential next step for him.
Following his exit from Red Bull Racing, Horner has been in talks with several F1 teams about a possible return. His appearance at Jerez this weekend has added to speculation about his plans.
Speaking to MotoGP’s Jack Appleyard inside the paddock at Jerez, Horner reflected on how much the sport had changed since he last attended a race nearly two decades ago.
“The series is under new management, the same as Formula 1, and it’s great to see the motorbikes and observe how they’ve developed,” he said via Speedweek. “I think the last time I was at a MotoGP race was in Estoril in 2005, so it’s been a while.
“I think it’s a really interesting time for MotoGP. It, too, is going through a phase of change under new ownership. That’s why I wanted to come here and see for myself.”
The 52-year-old didn’t give anything away but did point out that there are now more connections between F1 and MotoGP with Liberty Media involved in both sports.
He added: “They’re great races, it’s a great show. The riders are incredible, the bikes are incredible. It’s only when you see it live that you appreciate just how insane these machines are. I believe this sport has so much to offer.
“Hopefully, the people at Liberty can benefit from their experience in Formula 1. I know that Stefano Domenicali is very committed – I’m here with him today. There are sure to be some synergy effects there.”
Horner still appears focused on finding a way back into Formula 1, but the possibility of switching to MotoGP hasn’t been ruled out.
But if an F1 return doesn’t materialise, there’s always the possibility he could follow in Guenther Steiner’s footsteps. Steiner made the switch from F1 to MotoGP by buying Tech3 from Herve Poncharal last season, with plans to turn them into a competitive outfit.
For now, though, Horner remains committed to returning to F1 and believes his best path forward is through team ownership rather than taking on a standard role within an organisation. That mindset could eventually lead him towards MotoGP team ownership down the line.
Everyone in the paddock didn’t exactly welcome Steiner’s move at first, so it’ll be interesting to see how fans might respond if Horner decides to make a similar transition.
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