Christian Horner On Liberty Media’s Shortlist To Become MotoGP CEO After F1 Experience 

Report: Liberty Media considers former Red Bull boss for MotoGP CEO role According to a new report, Christian Horner has been included on a shortlist by Liberty Media to take over as MotoGP’s new CEO. Horner left Red Bull during the 2025 season after nearly two decades in charge of the F1 team, having led them through one of the most successful periods in their history. But the final stretch of his time with Red Bull was turbulent, with the team’s drop-off in performance early in 2025 believed to be a major factor in the decision. After stepping away from F1, Horner was reportedly advised by former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone to consider a move into MotoGP rather than looking for another role within motorsport’s top tier. Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images Liberty Media eyes Christian Horner as the next MotoGP CEO SoyMotor has reported that Christian Horner is being considered as a candidate to become the next CEO of MotoGP, following his appearance at the Spanish Grand Prix last weekend. His visit to the Jerez paddock fuelled rumours of the former F1 man potentially acquiring a stake in a MotoGP team, in light of his recent attempts to return to F1 through purchasing Otro Capital’s shares in the Alpine outfit. The Spanish publication claims Horner isn’t interested in just team ownership. Instead, he’s reportedly looking at a broader role within top-level motorcycle racing. Long-time CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta has led MotoGP since 1998, but Liberty Media’s recent purchase has signalled a shift in direction for the sport. If Horner is appointed, it would be another major move by Liberty Media, following several changes already introduced aimed at bringing its two motorsport divisions closer together. Christian Horner could be the next F1 figure to make the move to MotoGP If Christian Horner ends up taking on the role of CEO at MotoGP, he’d be joining a growing list of figures who’ve made the switch from Formula 1 to the two-wheeled series. Guenther Steiner is the most recent example. He bought Tech3 from Herve Poncharal late in 2025 and has been involved in MotoGP ever since. Aprilia’s Massimo Rivola and Trackhouse team boss Davide Brivio also have F1 backgrounds. Rivola was Ferrari’s sporting director from 2009 to 2016, while Brivio had a short spell as Alpine’s racing director in 2021. Read more:


Christian Horner Open To MotoGP Move, But Only If It Means Running The Sport 

According to Italian journalist Roberto Chinchero, Christian Horner wouldn’t be drawn into a role in MotoGP unless it put him in charge of the entire sport. Horner’s unannounced visit to the paddock during the Spanish Grand Prix only added fuel to speculation. There are growing expectations that Liberty Media will look to bring F1 experience into the new MotoGP era. Guenther Steiner, who used to run Haas F1, is now owner of Tech3. Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola and Trackhouse’s Davide Brivio both previously held senior roles in Formula One as well. Christian Horner may be aiming for Carmelo Ezpeleta’s job Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images During a Motorsport Italia Q&A, Chinchero was asked if Horner could be taking over at Gresini, after he was spotted in their garage. Horner has been without a role since Red Bull parted ways with him last July, ending his two-decade run in charge. Nadia Padovani, wife of late founder Fausto Gresini, is the current owner and team principal, while Michele Masini is the team manager. Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has previously held talks over investing in Gresini. Chinchero thinks Horner’s ambitions go beyond running a single team. With Liberty Media potentially looking to install their own leadership in MotoGP, Horner may be positioning himself for the top job. Chinchero believes that it would only be on those terms that Horner would even consider such a move: Liberty recently rebranded Dorna as MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group but they have kept Ezpeleta in his CEO post, which he has held since the mid-90s, for the moment. What we know about Christian Horner’s ambitions after failed F1 comeback talks Horner became an extremely powerful figure in F1 given the length of his tenure and his track record, but he was still an employee of the Red Bull ownership. It was never fully clear whether he ranked above motorsport advisor Helmut Marko in the hierarchy either. The 52-year-old former Red Bull boss isn’t short on backing from investors and even toyed with building his own F1 outfit from scratch before reports of this potential shift to two wheels emerged. The 52-year-old hasn’t had any shortage of investor interest either and once explored launching his own Formula One outfit before news broke that he may switch to motorsport altogether. A move to CEO would certainly give him more influence than any team role ever could. However, stepping into a broader sport-wide position might lack some of the competitive edge that comes with being on pit wall week-to-week. Read more:


Christian Horner 'allowed' To Make F1 Return After Striking Red Bull Deal 

Former Red Bull F1 team principal Christian Horner would be able to make a return to the sport as early as next month, according to reports.
 Horner was sacked as Red Bull team principal midway through last season, bringing to an end a 20-year spell which had yielded eight drivers' championships and six constructors' titles.
 The Brit made way for Laurent Mekies, who is now attempting to rebuild the Red Bull squad following a multitude of departures over the past couple of seasons.
 Article continues under video Horner, on the other hand, has been looking for a way back in to F1, being linked with team ownership positions at Alpine and Haas as well as the team principal role at Aston Martin alongside former colleague Adrian Newey.
 But despite it coming up to a year since he was axed from Red Bull, the Brit has not yet managed to seal another role in F1.
 Now, reports from the Sunday Times suggest that he strictly speaking would be allowed to be in another role with a different team as early as the Canadian Grand Prix in May, in line with a period of gardening leave that he negotiated with Red Bull when leaving.
 Horner is believed to have struck up an £80million deal with the team to end his contract early and walk away, with 10 months gardening leave meaning that he couldn't join up with another squad until May 2026. However, the report also states that he is not planning on a return to the F1 paddock any time soon.
 READ MORE: McLaren F1 boss accuses Red Bull of having 'unhealthy' setup
 While moves to other F1 teams have failed to materialise, Horner has also been linked with a move to a different series.
 The 52-year-old was recently spotted at a MotoGP race in Jerez, which he was invited to by Liberty Media themselves.
 Liberty Media are the rights holders for F1, and have also recently acquired the rights to MotoGP as part of a £3.1billion deal.
 Former F1 team principal Guenther Steiner has already taken up a team ownership role in the motorcycle racing series, and there are reports linking Horner to a similar kind of role, if he cannot seal his return to F1.
 READ MORE: Red Bull reunion? How Horner and Marko could reconnect after ex-F1 star lands new role Related