F1 News: Red Bull Reveals Who Contacted Team Over Lewis Hamilton Seat
Red Bull's Christian Horner has clarified the ongoing speculations about Lewis Hamilton's alleged contact with the team. Horner indicated that the contact came from Hamilton's father, Anthony Hamilton, though confirming that no serious discussions about a seat exchange took place.
Key Takeaways
- Initial Contact: Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing's team principal, disclosed that the contact regarding Lewis Hamilton potentially joining Red Bull came from Hamilton's father, Anthony. He noted this as a normal occurrence in the racing world, especially when drivers face challenging periods in their careers.
- No Serious Discussions: Horner firmly stated that there were no substantial talks with Lewis Hamilton about joining Red Bull. He acknowledged his long-standing acquaintance with Anthony Hamilton but reaffirmed that Red Bull never considered changing their driver lineup.
- Red Bull's Stance on Driver Lineup: Despite acknowledging the questions surrounding Hamilton's performance, given his two-year Grand Prix winless streak, Horner reiterated Red Bull's satisfaction with their current drivers and dismissed any possibility of Hamilton joining their team.
During the first free practice session in Abu Dhabi, Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing's team principal, responded to rumours about Lewis Hamilton and his team's alleged contact with Red Bull. Horner's comments aimed to clarify the situation.
"It's remarkable how much traction this has got," Horner said. "It's entirely normal for drivers' representatives, drivers' parents to have different conversations during the course of a year."
When asked specifically if it was Hamilton's dad who made an inquiry, Horner replied:
"Look, we haven't had any serious discussion with Lewis. There was never a seat available. I've known Anthony Hamilton for many years. He's a good guy, a proud racing father, and inevitably when drivers go through tough spots.
"Let's face it, Lewis hasn't won a Grand Prix for two years. It's inevitable that questions will be asked up and down the paddock. But there was never any engagement and I don't know who represents who or what but with the same surname, you would think they were reasonably close."
Horner also commented on the state of Red Bull's driver lineup:
"We're very happy with the drivers that we've got," Horner stated to Sky Sports. "But of course, you can understand. Lewis hasn't won a race for almost two years.
"You can understand the questions being asked. It's entirely logical and normal for those type of things to happen. There is no seat available, so it's really a non-story."
Despite the ongoing rumours, Red Bull's stance remains firm: Lewis Hamilton is not a prospective option for their team. They are more than happy with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.