Christian Horner has been strongly linked with a future return to Formula 1 since he was axed without warning by Red Bull in July after 20 years at the helm of the team
The head of the Cadillac Formula 1 project has categorically ruled out any prospect of the team offering Christian Horner a route back into the sport. F1’s newest team has been linked with a potential swoop for the former Red Bull chief who was unceremoniously axed in July.
Horner spent 20 years in charge of Red Bull and oversaw the team’s rise from noisy newcomers to one of the dominant forces on the grid, winning multiple titles. It is the sort of trajectory Cadillac hope to emulate in the future, ahead of their debut in 2026.
But Dan Towriss, head of TWG Motorsport which owns and operates the new entry, insists there are no plans to bring Horner in to help with that aim. Graeme Lowdon is team principal at Cadillac and that, according to Towriss, will not change any time soon.
He said: “I would like to officially shut down that rumour. Our support, belief and backing is 100 percent in Graeme Lowdon.”
TWG Motorsport is the entity which has been set-up to operate the new F1 team since its addition to the grid was confirmed. The project was initially green-lighted by the FIA under the Andretti banner, but it was only after Michael Andretti stepped down as boss that commercial right holder Liberty Media removed its objections.
Cadillac, through parent company General Motors, was initially due to enter as a sponsor and engine manufacturer. But their influence and role has expanded, as has that of Lowdon who was initially brought in as simply an adviser to the project in its infancy.
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But he then took on responsibility for laying the foundations of the team, before being formally extended the offer to become team principal. He reports to Towriss and to General Motors as the owners of the team.
It marks the first time Lowdon will have a chance at leading an F1 outfit with significant funding, having last been involved with the Virgin Racing outfit which debuts in 2010. As CEO, he oversaw identity changes to Marussia and then Manor Racing, which folded in early 2017 after years of financial struggles.
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The Cadillac set-up is one which would not be suited to what Horner is believed to want from his next role in F1, should he land one. Used to having total control at Red Bull Racing – a situation which led to executives at the parent energy drink company pushing for his exit – the Brit would want to be the one in charge again.
Horner has also been heavily linked with Alpine, which is owned by the Renault Group. Should he enter negotiations with the French carmaker over a role in the future, he is likely to demand total control of their F1 operations as well as a financial stake.
