[Saba Sports News] Former Red Bull team principal and CEO Christian Horner has recently been revealed to hold talks with senior executives of BYD, China’s new energy vehicle giant, as both sides actively work on a stunning Formula 1 entry plan. Li Ke, Vice President of BYD, publicly confirmed the brand’s strong interest in F1 projects. Horner was verified to fly to Cannes, France last weekend and conducted two days of in-depth negotiations with Li Ke.
As the world’s largest electric vehicle maker, BYD aims higher than merely acquiring a minority stake in the Alpine F1 team as previously rumored. It intends to establish a brand-new independent 12th F1 squad under Horner’s leadership. Dismissed in summer 2025, Horner finished his gardening leave on May 8 this year. He aspires to take on the role of team owner or shareholder in his next career chapter. Boasting glorious achievements forged during his tenure building Red Bull’s dominance, Horner stands out as a strong contender in the Alpine equity race and an ideal partner for BYD’s foray into top-tier motorsport.
It is reported that Horner has held multiple exploratory meetings with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem regarding grid expansion.
In my opinion, a Chinese-based team can bring sustained commercial value to F1, so neither the FIA nor FOM will pose barriers. If the plan moves forward, it will mark the first fully Chinese-owned team in F1 history, carrying milestone significance.