Just when you thought it was over, Christian Horner, like an indestructible zombie, has clawed his way back from the depths of a dishonourable exile from F1, the details of which are well documented. But Horner, being Horner, cannot stay away from Formula 1. He wants a return, even though many within the paddock would rather see the back of him, despite the success he enjoyed during his long Red Bull tenure.

Horner has been trying to find a way back into the sport since he was sacked as Red Bull team principal, but the door was firmly shut in his face. Undeterred, he has now latched onto whatever rumours might propel him back into running an F1 team.

I am not sure whether he craves the Formula 1 limelight, enjoys being at the centre of controversy, or simply feels he still has something to prove. He has already proved he can run a team — his time at Red Bull was immensely successful, even if his ending was far less so.

However, there may now be a light at the end of the tunnel. BYD has confirmed its interest in entering Formula 1, and rumours suggest that senior executives have held talks with Horner about becoming a potential CEO and team principal.

Rumours are a staple of Formula 1 whenever news is scarce, but one story gathering momentum is BYD’s potential entry into the sport as a 12th team. The Chinese automotive giant, which recently overtook Tesla as the world’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer, has reportedly explored opportunities within Formula 1 amid ongoing negotiations over a 24 per cent stake in Alpine currently owned by Otro Capital.

Several parties are believed to have shown interest, including former Red Bull boss Christian Horner and Mercedes, which already supplies Alpine with power units. While Flavio Briatore has publicly acknowledged interest from both Horner and Mercedes, Alpine itself has remained tight-lipped, stating only that discussions are taking place between stakeholders and interested parties.

However, BYD’s ambitions may extend beyond buying into an existing team. Reports suggest the company is instead considering launching an entirely new Formula 1 outfit of its own.

Horner is said to have met with BYD executive Stella Li in Cannes over the weekend, where discussions about a possible F1 entry reportedly took place. BYD later shared footage from its Cannes event showing Horner among its guests, further fuelling speculation about a future partnership.