Christian Horner gets route back into F1 as Brit 'in running' to replace sacked team boss

Christian Horner is reportedly a contender to replace Andy Cowell as Aston Martin team principal, with the 56-year-old reportedly set to be sacked after the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The former Red Bull boss has been chasing a route back onto the F1 grid since he was removed from his post back in July.

In the aftermath of a chaotic Las Vegas GP, RacingNews365 reported that Cowell was set to be removed from his post as team principal with Aston Martin languishing down in seventh place in the Constructors' Championship standings, only eight points ahead of ninth-placed Sauber. Their report cited Andreas Seidl, formerly of McLaren and Sauber, as the leading contender to replace him.

However, according to a report from BBC Sport, Horner is also one of the contenders to replace Cowell. The legendary former Red Bull team principal has been linked with a raft of teams since leaving the paddock in July, including Ferrari, Haas and Alpine, although this is his biggest opportunity since departing his post.

Interestingly, Horner was linked with a switch to Aston Martin ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, but those reports were shut down emphatically by Cowell, who distanced his team from the 52-year-old.

"I had a chat with Lawrence [Stroll, owner of Aston Martin F1] this morning to find out what he knows," told the media in Singapore. "It looks as though Christian's ringing up pretty much every team owner at the moment. I can clearly say there are no plans for involvement of Christian either in an operational or investment role in the future."

If Horner can return to the grid with Aston Martin, he will set up a reunion with arch-rival Zak Brown, who called the former Red Bull man out ahead of the first leg of the season-ending triple header in Las Vegas.

"I've known Christian for 30-plus years. We used to get on," the McLaren Racing CEO told The Telegraph. "His results are amazing. So, hats off. But he's changed. I think the Drive to Survive fame, the money, the glory, all got a bit much."

Horner's former team, Red Bull, had something to celebrate in Las Vegas, at least. Max Verstappen kept his Drivers' Championship dreams alive with victory in Sin City, overtaking pole-sitter and title rival Lando Norris at the first corner after the McLaren racer ran wide on the outside before checking out to win by 20 seconds.