Christian Horner's return to Formula 1 is now said to be "under threat" amid the reported $3 billion sale of an F1 team.
The former Red Bull team principal, who lives on the Oxfordshire border near Banbury, has been linked with a return to the sport following his departure from the team last year.
However, GPFans reports that a potential route back into F1 could face significant competition amid claims that Cadillac's F1 operation is being sounded out for a possible sale.
Reports cited by the publication claim Mark Walter's TWG Global has been exploring a sale of the American outfit, seeking a figure in the region of $3 billion.
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Mr Horner, who is based in the Oxfordshire countryside with his wife Geri Halliwell-Horner, is said to have been looking for a team with which to make his F1 comeback.
Crucially, rather than simply taking a senior management position, the 52-year-old reportedly wants to secure an ownership stake as part of his return.
GPFans said: "Christian Horner has notably been sniffing around for a team with which to re-enter F1 after being sacked by Red Bull last summer, wanting an ownership stake wherever he goes next."
The publication added that potential destinations for Mr Horner have been limited amid reluctance from existing team owners to surrender stakes in their increasingly valuable businesses.
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A potential sale of Cadillac could therefore represent an opportunity for Mr Horner and financial backers to acquire a stake, but they could face some formidable competition.
The Guardian, as cited by GPFans, reported that Fenway Sports Group, the owners of Liverpool FC, is among those interested in adding the F1 team to its sporting portfolio.
FSG also owns the Boston Red Sox and has a stake in RFK Racing.
The report nevertheless raises the possibility that Mr Horner's ambitions and a takeover by another investor would not necessarily be mutually exclusive.
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It said: "Of course, it's entirely possible that FSG (or another potential buyer) could go in and purchase a majority share, but work with Horner and co. to make the former Red Bull chief a minority owner in the team."
Mr Horner spent two decades in charge of Red Bull Racing, overseeing an era in which the team became one of Formula 1's dominant forces.
His potential next move has consequently attracted considerable attention since he left the team, with the possibility of securing equity in another outfit emerging as a key part of speculation surrounding his comeback.
For now, however, both the potential sale and Mr Horner's involvement remain unconfirmed.
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