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Christian Horner speaks for first time after dramatic Red Bull exit: 'I have unfinished business'
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Christian Horner speaks for first time after dramatic Red Bull exit: 'I have unfinished business'

Christian Horner has spoken to media for the first time since being ousted as Red Bull team principal, declaring that he has "unfinished business in Formula 1". Horner had been Red Bull boss from its very first season back in 2005 but was axed after last season's British Grand Prix in July.  It marked the end of a major era in the Milton Keynes-based outfit's history and represented a shock exit from the F1 paddock for Horner.  Since his exit from Red Bull, the Briton has been heavily linked with a move to Alpine, with a consortium led by Horner having discussed purchasing Otro Capital's 24% stake. He feels there is more for him still in the pinnacle of motorsport but insists he would only return for the right project. "I feel like I have unfinished business in Formula One," Horner said at the European Motor Show in Dublin, as quoted by The Guardian . "It didn’t finish the way that I would have liked it to finish. “But I am not going to come back for just anything. I am only going to come back for something that can win. I don’t want to go back in the paddock unless I have something to do. I miss the sport, I miss the people, I miss the team that I built.  "I had 21 incredible years in Formula One. I had a great run, won a lot of races, championships and worked with some amazing drivers, engineers and partners. “I don’t need to go back. I could stop my career now. So I would only go back for the right opportunity to work with great people, and to work in an environment where people want to win, and they shared that desire.  "I would want to be a partner, rather than just a hired hand, but we will see how it plays out. I am not in a rush. I don’t need to do anything." Horner 'flattered' Despite being asked over six months ago, Horner speaking at the European Motor Show marked his first interview, much to his surprise.  The 52-year-old has found himself hungry to return to F1 and has found it "flattering" being rumoured with so many positions. "What has been fascinating is that I stepped out of Red Bull on July 8, and this is the first time I have actually spoken to anyone. [In the media] I have been going to every single Formula One team, which has ranged from the back of the grid, to the middle of the grid, and to the front of the grid. And there just seems to be an appetite as to: ‘What am I going to do? Where am I going to go?’ "The reality is that until the spring I can’t do anything anyway. It is very flattering to keep being associated with all of these different teams."

Pierre Gasly sets F1 driver first with Guenther Steiner partnership
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Pierre Gasly sets F1 driver first with Guenther Steiner partnership

Pierre Gasly has become the first active F1 driver to invest in a MotoGP team, forming part of an investor group behind Guenther Steiner's Red Bull KTM Tech3 team. At the start of this year, former Haas team principal Steiner became CEO of Tech 3 as he switched from four wheels to two, joining forces with Richard Coleman, a touring car veteran and sports management specialist, who has become team principal. Along with IKON Capital, Steiner and Coleman completed a takeover of Tech3, which has today announced its full ownership structure. Bolt Ventures and Main Street Advisors have now bolstered the acquisition. In addition, Alpine driver Gasly is among a range of names in the investor group. He said: "I have a strong conviction in the strength of the Tech3 brand and the long-term growth of the MotoGP sport. "Tech3 has significant untapped potential, and I look forward to contributing to further elevating the team’s profile." Gasly has beaten the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to the punch in terms of MotoGP investment, as both drivers have been linked with a move in the past. It is not Gasly's first venture into sports investment. Two years ago, he became a joint shareholder of third-tier French football club, FC Versailles. The overall investment in Tech3 is significant, as outlined by Steiner. "It’s a very exciting time to be entering MotoGP, and it was important to IKON Capital and me to bring together a group of like-minded investors who share a long-term vision for the Tech3 team," he said. "We are joined by a strong group that understands motorsport, brings genuine value-added capabilities, and shares our core values. "Just as importantly, we are committed to preserving Tech3’s heritage while taking a measured, strategic approach to growth. This is about building on what already works, and I’m looking forward to working together to shape the team’s future." Bolt Ventures is fronted by David Blitzer, a managing partner of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and NHL's New Jersey Devils, whilst Main Street Advisors was founded by Paul Wachter, who is also a partner at Fenway Sports Group, whose ownership portfolio includes English Premier League side Liverpool and MLB's Boston Red Sox.