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Christian Horner has made it clear that he is not eager to return to Formula 1 simply for the sake of being back, but there is one team that could change his mind.
The former Red Bull team principal, who left the team in July 2025 after more than two decades in charge, says Ferrari is the only outfit that could tempt him into another team principal role without giving him an ownership stake.
Horner has repeatedly said since leaving Red Bull that he would prefer his next F1 venture to involve owning part of a team rather than returning as a "hired hand." But when asked about Ferrari, he admitted the Italian team would be an exception.
"I've been a hired hand. I did 21 years sitting on the pit wall. I don't need to go back to that," Horner told The Times.
"At this stage in my life, there's only one team for which I would accept non-participation in ownership." That team, he said, is Ferrari.
"Would I consider Ferrari? I mean, Ferrari is the biggest brand in Formula 1. It's the dream. And arguably it's the sleeping giant of Formula 1."
Horner's comments have naturally reignited speculation about his future, although there is no indication that Ferrari has offered him a position. Frédéric Vasseur remains Ferrari's team principal after signing a multi-year contract extension in 2025.
Horner, meanwhile, has plenty of history to point to when discussing what he could bring to another team. During his 20-year spell at Red Bull, he oversaw championship-winning eras involving Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, with the team collecting multiple drivers' and constructors' titles.
Despite insisting he can afford to be selective about his next move, Horner admitted that staying away from F1 indefinitely would not necessarily satisfy him.
"There comes a point in time where a team's competitiveness outweighs other egotistical stuff," he said.
"I'm in a very fortunate position that I can afford to be picky. If I don't do anything, I can live here for whatever time I've got left on the planet, and just worry about whether it's going to rain and make the grass green or not.
"But is that going to fulfil me? No. I still feel that there's another dance."
Whether Ferrari would ever actually make that call remains unknown.
