Horner moving to Aston? Schumacher has his doubts.

      Ralf Schumacher believes that Christian Horner's rumored return to Formula 1 will not be with Aston Martin. The former Red Bull team principal has been connected to Aston Martin, Alpine, and even a potential twelfth team backed by BYD, but Schumacher sees several hurdles in this scenario.

      "I can’t envision Christian Horner returning as team principal, especially not with someone like Lawrence Stroll at the helm," he shared with Sky Deutschland. "I don’t think that would be feasible. That’s merely my perspective."

      He noted that Jonathan Wheatley is likely to take on the role of team boss for the Silverstone-based outfit. "Though it’s quiet around him now, I can see him stepping into such a position at some point."

      "What role would Christian Horner play at Aston Martin?" Schumacher questioned.

      He speculated that Horner's future decisions will hinge on achieving more control than he had at Red Bull. "At Red Bull, he had a strong boss above him, limiting his freedom," he explained. "Horner likely wants to be a shareholder and avoid a situation where he could be fired again. This is something everyone can understand."

      Schumacher also thinks the rumors about BYD will persist. "I believe the BYD situation is still evolving," he remarked. "Alpine is also in the mix, but for Christian to have an opportunity there, changes would need to occur regarding Flavio Briatore first, which does not seem easy to me."

      Nonetheless, Schumacher feels that Horner merits another chance in Formula 1. "One cannot overlook the fact that, regardless of the circumstances, he’s been one of the most successful team bosses in F1," he stated. "Thus, he absolutely deserves to have another role in the sport. He understands it well and knows how everything operates."

      "A controversial figure is also essential in the grand arena of Formula 1. Someone like Christian Horner is part of that landscape," he added.

      Schumacher even mentioned that Toto Wolff has acknowledged Horner's absence. "Toto reportedly sent him a message expressing that, despite being rivals, he misses him. They truly competed very intensely against each other."

      Regarding Aston Martin, Schumacher indicated that the presence of Adrian Newey complicates the idea of a reunion. "Of course, anything can happen. Perhaps Lawrence Stroll will sell the team eventually, and then Horner could find his way back into consideration."