F1 News: Helmut Marko Stirs The Lewis Hamilton Red Bull Controversy - "Talk Of A Condition"

Marko made it clear that they could not afford the most expensive driver on the grid.

Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has pitched his views into the ongoing Lewis Hamilton- Red Bull controversy, sparked off by team principal Christian Horner, which states that Lewis Hamilton approached Red Bull earlier this year for a seat in their car alongside Max Verstappen. 

The seven-time world champion, who inked a new two-year agreement with Mercedes in August, initially refuted Horner’s assertion during the media briefing on Thursday before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. Horner later disclosed that the contact had originated from Hamilton’s father, Anthony.

Entering the controversy, Marko revealed that Hamilton's interest in switching to Red Bull was serious, with the condition put by the Mercedes driver that he would make the switch only if he got the "same material" as Verstappen.

Revealing his side of the story, Marko told F1-Insider.com:

“I can only say that Christian Horner told me in January about a text message he received from Hamilton‘s entourage.

“It seemed authorised by the driver, especially because there was talk of a condition that Hamilton set. He only wanted to drive for Red Bull if he got the same material as Max Verstappen.

“For me at least there was no doubt that the request from the Hamilton side was serious.”

Downplaying the possibility of Hamilton joining Red Bull, Marko offered two reasons why the pairing with Verstappen would not be possible, the most prominent one being the "emotional differences" being carried forward from the 2021 season. He told Sky F1: 

"I said that the atmosphere is still charged thanks to the events of 2021 and it’s probably not going to work out due to emotional differences.

"Financially, we also can’t afford the most expensive driver on the grid.

"However, the main point was the relationship between Max and Lewis."