F1 Rumour: Christian Horner Held Talks With Lewis Hamilton Over Red Bull Seat
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has made a sensational claim that Lewis Hamilton approached Red Bull several times this year for a seat in one of their cars. In addition, he also met John Elkann (Ferrari chairman), and the two figures had "serious talks."
Hamilton signed a new deal with Mercedes in August this year for another two years. However, Horner hints that the seven-time world champion tried his best to explore other options before continuing his stint with the Silver Arrows.
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As per the Red Bull team boss, Hamilton's team reached out to Red Bull to discuss his onboarding into his team for an action-packed partnership with rival Max Verstappen. However, Horner didn't see that fall into his equation. Speaking to the Daily Mail, here's what he had to say:
“We have had several conversations over the years about Lewis joining.
“They have reached out a few times. Most recently, earlier in the year, there was an inquiry about whether there would be any interest.
“But I can’t see Max and Lewis working out together. The dynamic wouldn’t be right. We are 100 per cent happy with what we have.”
Horner also added that Hamilton held "serious" talks with Ferrari as recently as the middle of this year. He said:
"He met John Elkann [Ferrari chairman], too. I think there were serious talks.
“It was around Monaco [in May]. There were definitely conversations, perhaps with Vasseur, too. But certainly with Elkann.”
It is uncertain whether Lewis Hamilton's remarks earlier this year about Verstappen's 'weaker' teammates were intended as a strategy in his discussions with Red Bull to show that he is the one capable of providing a strong challenge to the Dutch driver. Here's what he revealed a few months ago to Sky F1:
“I’m no more impressed than when Michael [Schumacher] was leading, when Sebastian [Vettel] was leading when Kimi [Raikkonen] was driving, when Fernando was winning – it’s just the same.
“I think the [Red Bull] team as a whole is one of the strongest, they’re firing on all cylinders right now.
“The car is incredible, the drivers are doing an amazing job, very consistent, the pit crew is doing a great job, the mechanics are doing a good job, strategy is doing a good job – on point, you can’t fault them.
“In my personal opinion, all my team-mates have been stronger than the team-mates Max has had: Jenson, Fernando, George, Valtteri, Nico.
“I’ve had so many. These guys have all been very, very strong, very consistent – and Max has not raced against anyone like that.”
Horner's latest claims about Hamilton are sure enough to attract enough controversy ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend.
