Marco Bezzecchi
Christian Horner would only be tempted to move to MotoGP if he could run the sport, Italian journalist Roberto Chinchero says.
Horner’s surprise appearance in the MotoGP paddock during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend has inevitably ignited rumours that the ex-Red Bull F1 boss could take over one of the teams. Interest in the sport has increased considerably since Liberty Media’s acquisition.
Guenther Steiner, who used to run the Haas F1 team, recently bought Tech3, while Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola and Trackhouse’s Davide Brivio also held senior positions in the four-wheel paddock.
Christian Horner may be eyeing Carmelo Ezpeleta role in MotoGP
Chinchero was asked in a Motorsport Italia Q&A whether Horner could become the new Gresini boss after he was seen in their garage. The Briton has been out of work since he was sacked by Red Bull last July after 20 years in charge.
Nadia Padovani, wife of late founder Fausto Gresini, is the current owner and team principal, while Michele Masini is the team manager. Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has previously held talks over investing in Gresini.
But Chinchero suspects that Horner has larger ambitions. Aware that Liberty Media may seek to replace Carmelo Ezpeleta with their own ‘man’, he could put himself forward to run the sport.
Would you like to see Christian Horner in MotoGP?
Liberty installed Stefano Domenicali, the former Ferrari team principal, as the F1 CEO in 2020. Previously, Chase Carey had replaced the perennial supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
Chinchero said: “Look, the only role I can imagine Christian Horner in is head of everything, Liberty Media man, the Domenicali of Formula 1, the MotoGP boss. I don’t see him in other roles.
“It’s true that the Ezpeleta family is still there, but when Liberty comes in, they bring in their men. It happened in Formula 1, even putting aside a figure like Bernie Ecclestone and bringing in their men simply because they have their system and therefore need to work differently.”
Liberty recently rebranded Dorna as MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group but they have kept Ezpeleta in his CEO post, which he has held since the mid-90s, for the moment.
What we know about Christian Horner’s ambitions after failed F1 comeback talks
Horner became an extremely powerful figure in F1 given the length of his tenure and his track record, but he was still an employee of the Red Bull ownership. It was never fully clear whether he ranked above motorsport advisor Helmut Marko in the hierarchy either.
Horner has considered multiple pathways back to the sport since last summer but wants to consolidate his power at any new team by acquiring a stake in the business. He is known to have held talks with Alpine and Aston Martin, but neither deal has advanced at this stage.
The 52-year-old, who has significant backing from investors, has even considered setting up his own F1 team, but he may now be considering a shock career switch.
He would be more influential as the MotoGP CEO than he ever was in F1, though he may miss the competitive fire that comes with leading a particular team.
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