Alpine might lure Horner with team equity

Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes Christian Horner could realistically leave Red Bull for Alpine - especially if Renault is willing to offer him a stake in the team.

Schumacher, 49, has publicly clashed with Horner in recent seasons and has been one of the Briton's most outspoken critics.

German outlet Sport1 even reported that Horner attempted to have Schumacher removed from Sky Deutschland’s pundit team - a move that reportedly failed. While speculation about Horner's future has circulated recently, it's not just Schumacher fueling the rumours.

In the F1 paddock, there's increasing talk that Horner's influence at Red Bull has been diminished by the team’s ownership. Horner has laughed off links to Ferrari.

"My Italian is worse than Flavio (Briatore)'s English, so how on earth would that work?" he joked in Barcelona.

But Schumacher believes the Alpine link is more credible, not least because of Horner's long-standing relationship with Alpine’s advisor Flavio Briatore.

"Briatore is looking for a good new team boss," Schumacher said. "And he and Horner know and respect each other."

He believes the key to unlocking a deal would be an offer of ownership.

"That's what he (Horner) has always wanted," Schumacher said. "And he doesn't have that chance at Red Bull. "He doesn't have it anywhere else either, and that's why I could well imagine that he's very interested."

A similar ownership-style incentive reportedly played a role in Adrian Newey’s move from Red Bull to Aston Martin.

If Horner did walk away from Red Bull, Schumacher has a clear suggestion for his replacement. "If I were (Red Bull CEO) Oliver Mintzlaff, I would call Andreas Seidl right away and try to get him," said the former driver, referencing the German who exited the Audi-owned Sauber project last year.