Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has revealed that former Red Bull Formula 1 boss Christian Horner had sounded out the American squad over a potential role, but exploratory talks have gone nowhere.
Horner’s 20-year-stint as Red Bull’s F1 boss came to an end when he was ousted after July’s British Grand Prix, with the 51-year-old since agreeing eye-watering severance terms with his former employer that would leave him free to pursue a new role in F1.
As Horner weighs up his options, which will likely require him to exert a significant amount of control over any organisation, he has been linked with a variety of teams, including the suggestion that he could be on his way to the Haas outfit.
Ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, Haas team boss Komatsu revealed that it was Horner himself who had approached Haas over a potential role with the squad, but Komatsu was adamant those talks had gone nowhere.
“Yeah, it is true that he approached us. And then one of our guys had an exploratory talk. And that’s it. Nothing has gone any further. It is finished,” Komatsu said.
Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of Haas F1 looks on in the Paddock
Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
When presser further, he replied: “I’ve got nothing more to say. Like I said, you write whatever you want. I’m not fuelling that story.”
Horner has also been linked with the likes of Alpine and Aston Martin, with Aston F1 CEO Andy Cowell refusing to rule out a role for Horner when given the chance.
When asked if there was any possibility of Horner heading down the road to Silverstone, Cowell said: “I think Christian has taken some time out at the moment. He’s probably enjoying time with friends and family. He loves the sport though. I wish him well with whatever he ends up doing in the future.”
When pressed again if he saw any scope for discussions with him, Cowell added: “We have got a strong team. We’ve got a strong team with Adrian at the helm of the technical organisation. And we’re growing and building.
“I think Christian’s record speaks for itself. He’s a great competitor. I guess it’s down to Christian to work out what he wants to do. I think we’ve got a strong set-up and we’re marching forward with that.”
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– The Autosport.com Team
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