Horner in running to join Aston Martin with Cowell's position under threat - reports

Christian Horner is understood to be a contender for the Aston Martin Formula 1 team principal role as incumbent Andy Cowell looks set to leave, according to reports.

Horner was sacked as Red Bull boss in July after 20 years in the role, winning eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ crowns in that time. 

He then officially left in September after agreeing to a settlement, believed to be between $70-100million, and it is well known he has been plotting his return ever since.

That included Horner contacting several teams on the current grid such as Haas, while there was also talk of him joining Ferrari or purchasing a stake in Alpine. 

But, according to a BBC report, Aston Martin now looks like his most likely destination because Cowell is believed to have fallen out with star signing Adrian Newey, who joined as managing technical partner this year.

When Autosport approached Aston Martin for a comment, the Silverstone-based squad said: “The team will not be engaging in rumour or speculation. The focus is on maximising performance in the remaining races and preparing for 2026.”

It has been a disappointing season for the team in green as Aston is seventh in the championship with just two rounds remaining, meaning the strong start to 2023 is now a distant memory. 

Andy Cowell, Team Principal and Group CEO at Aston Martin F1 Team with Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images via Getty Images

Billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll has invested huge amounts of money, having unveiled a new factory across the road from Silverstone circuit while appointing big-name engineers.

Newey was one of them and the legendary designer, who is responsible for a combined 25 F1 titles in his career, has led work on the 2026 car when the new regulations come into effect.

The 66-year-old has done that under Cowell's leadership, but the two are believed to have had various disagreements which could lead to the CEO leaving after just over a year in charge. 

Although Cowell could be seen as the more authoritative figure on paper, Newey is Aston’s biggest coup and that is reflected in him being the company’s higher earner, while also holding a minority stake. 

But Horner is not certain to join given he previously worked with Newey at Red Bull, yet Newey left in the wake of a scandal that investigated Horner for inappropriate behaviour.

He was accused of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour against a female employee and although Horner was eventually cleared, it is understood he and Newey had a falling out because of it.

So if Cowell does lose his position and Horner doesn’t join, ex-McLaren boss Andreas Seidl and Martin Whitmarsh, ex-CEO of Aston Martin, are also believed to be in the running.