Oakley Capital, a private equity firm, announced on Thursday that Christian Horner, former Red Bull Formula One boss and advisor to the company's board of directors is now advising it on premium sports investments.

Horner, 52 was fired by Red Bull in July last year but it is expected that he will return to Formula One. He has been linked with a number possible opportunities.

Horner stated in a press release that "Oakley Capital is a well-known brand in the sports and consumer industries. I am looking forward to working with them in the future, and to sharing my experiences to support the next generation's standout sports enterprises."

Oakley invests into private businesses in Europe with enterprise values between EUR100million ($116.30million) and EUR1billion.

Vice?Golf, North Sails and Ben Ainslie’s British America's Cup GB1 are among the sports investments that have already been made by the firm.

Oakley Capital's founder, Peter Dubens, said: "Christian Horner has been widely recognized as a leader of global sport who is highly successful."

His experience, expertise and commercial intuition will be invaluable to us as we expand our sports portfolio.

"We are attracted to businesses that have the same characteristics as a typical Oakley Investment: founder-led and high-growth, supported by robust revenues, or undercommercialised,'scarce,' assets with significant, untapped potential."

ALPINE FORMULA 1 STAKE AND BYD

Horner, who reportedly left Red Bull for a payoff of PS80 million (US$107.58), has been linked with a 24% stake held by Otro Capital and other investors in the Alpine Formula One Team.

Otro has a group of investors that includes RedBird Capital Partners, Maximum Effort Investments as well as Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Also included are NFL star Patrick Mahomes as well as golfer Rory McIlroy.

Former Red Bull boss now free to return to Formula One after a period on 'gardening leaves' has also been linked with leading Chinese automaker BYD which has expressed interest in F1.

This could be in the form of a sponsor or investor, or by taking the final and 12th slot on the starting grid.

Horner was photographed with Stella Li, the vice-president of BYD at a BYD event held in Cannes over the weekend.

BYD has also been known to have held informal meetings with Formula One, the governing FIA and other officials.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA 'president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said this month that the Chinese were looking at it in a new way. They see the benefits of motorsport.

"I met with them. They are interested in partnering with the FIA on mobility and other issues.

We welcome any team from China. "I'm sure I have FOM's (Formula One) full support."

Horner's experience with Red Bull Powertrains, which provided Red Bull their own engine, would make it a costly and massive undertaking.

Horner also attended MotoGP and Formula E races recently.

(source: Reuters)