Ousted Red Bull Formula 1 team boss Christian Horner made a surprise appearance at Jerez on Saturday, fuelling speculation about a potential interest in MotoGP team ownership.
Horner was present at the Spanish Grand Prix alongside Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, with both spotted in the paddock on Saturday morning.
The Briton spent the final practice session of the weekend in the factory Honda garage, where he was seen conversing with HRC CEO Koji Watanabe.
Horner built a strong relationship with Honda’s top brass during his time with F1, with the Japanese manufacturer powering Red Bull to four drivers’ titles and two teams’ titles in the 2020s.
The 52-year-old has made no secret of his desire to return to F1, most likely through the purchase of equity, with Alpine emerging as an attractive opportunity for him earlier this year.
However, MotoGP also remains a viable option, particularly after Liberty Media’s acquisition of Dorna Sports last year.
Asked whether he was interested in buying a MotoGP team, Horner told MotoGP’s official feed: “I have always been a big fan of MotoGP, and while I’ve got a little bit of time, I thought it was a good opportunity to come down and have a look at the championship.
“Obviously, [MotoGP] is under new ownership now, in common with Formula 1, and it’s great to see the bikes and how they have evolved.
“I was last at a MotoGP race in Estoril in 2005, so it’s been a while.
“I think it’s a really interesting time for MotoGP. It’s going through a period of change under new ownership as well. So, I wanted to come here and see a little bit for myself.
“It’s great racing. It’s a great show. The riders are incredible and the bikes are incredible. It’s only when you get to see it live that you appreciate how insane these machines are.
“I think as a sport, it has so much to offer. So, hopefully, the Liberty guys, with the experience they have in Formula 1, will be able to lean into that.
“I know Stefano is very passionate. I’m here with him today. So, there’s going to be some synergies there.”
Liberty’s €4.2billion purchase of Dorna has put MotoGP under the same umbrella as its F1, with both championships now trading on NASDAQ under the Formula 1 Group.
There is precedent for personnel moving between the two paddocks, with Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola the most prominent example of an F1 engineer finding success in MotoGP.
But Liberty’s purchase is expected to accelerate that process, particularly in team ownership, with the American media company expected to help unlock more value out of MotoGP.
Stefano Domenicali of Italy and CEO of Formula 1 and Carmelo Ezpeleta of Spain and CEO of Dorna Sports
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner is already banking on such a return on investment, having led a consortium that took over KTM’s Tech3 satellite team in September.
Unlike F1, where each team must build their own chassis and other listed parts, thus requiring heavy investment in facilities, MotoGP allows independent teams to buy fully-built bikes from manufacturers and operate on a smaller scale.
Teams and manufacturers are currently negotiating improved financial terms with Dorna as part of the next commercial contract, which is set to come into force in 2027.
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– The Autosport.com Team
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