Hamilton accused Horner of lying about alleged talks with Red Bull and Ferrari

Christian Horner, Principal of the Red Bull Teamsaid that the atmosphere of Lewis Hamilton contacted him to find out if red bull He is interested in including the 7-time world champion in his team in 2024, along with his great rival, Max Verstappenand claimed to have spoken to the Englishman’s representative before the end lewis Horner signed his renewal with Mercedes until 2025. In addition, Horner went further and ensured that the Englishman also asked Ferrari. However, in Abu Dhabi GPhe Lewis Hamilton himself was quick to respond strongly.

“We’ve had several conversations over the years about Lewis joining. They’ve been in touch a few times. Just recently, at the beginning of the year, there was a question about whether there would be any interest (from Red Bull in Lewis)., says Christian Horner in the ‘Daily Mail’. And the response from the Stevenage pilot was not long in coming.

replied Hamilton

“I know it’s coming from Christian (Horner). I don’t really understand what he’s talking about because, as far as I know, no one on my team has talked to him, I haven’t talked to him in years.” Lewis Hamilton commented on the statements on ‘Sky Sports’.

“He contacted me at the beginning of the year to meet, but that was it. I just wished him a fantastic year and told him I hope to fight them in the near future. That’s it. So I’m not too sure, I think he’s just stirring things up. There are no confidential discussions. You know Christian. “He’s into that sort of thing.”said the 7-time F1 world champion, who accused Horner of wanting to destabilize his words.

Hamilton is on the verge of securing his eighth F1 title in a controversial and decisive finale at Abu Dhabi 2021 against Verstappen after a year full of tension and controversy against Max and Red Bull, with battles on track , at press conferences and in offices. Therefore, few can think that both Hamilton and Max want to think about sharing a team with Red Bull. And that’s what Hamilton talked about.

The Englishman assured that he has no problem sharing a team with Max, but he prefers to achieve success by progressing from a difficult position like the one he now occupies at Mercedes, in a team that has gone wrong in its concept car from the start. of new regulations. of 2022 and that even now continues to pay for that mistake of being in a position far from the achievements.

Hamilton said he was “more than happy” to fight Verstappen in an equal car, but his dream was a dream: “I think going from a car that wasn’t very good to a winning car, from my perspective, that’s not a dream. The dream is always to start where we are now and build from there to win. That’s why I stayed at Mercedes,” explained Hamilton.

Hamilton and Ferrari?

Christian Horner also told the ‘Daily Mail’ that Lewis also met with Ferrari boss John Elkann before his renewal at Mercedes.

“I think there were serious talks. It was in Monaco (in May). There were definitely talks, maybe with Vasseur (Ferrari Principal Team). But certainly, there were with Elkann,” Christian said. The truth is that when a driver negotiates his renewal with his team, it is common for him to also ask other teams about their situation. In fact, ‘Sky Sports’ claimed in March of this year, after the dispute at the Bahrain GP, ​​that Hamilton was considering a move to Ferrari, something that Lewis himself quickly denied.

“Mercedes has supported me since I was 13 years old. Having the tough year we had last year, I’m still here, and even though we had a tough year this year, I’m still here. They are the people who make rumors that are not true. It’s never useful,” he commented at the time.

“I am a fighter and we fight as a team. I love the challenge of finding solutions and I still believe I can put the car in places where others might not, and I love that challenge. Of course, I want us to start the season with a good car, but what’s really important is the journey,” he added on that occasion. Finally, Hamilton and Mercedes announced their contract extension in July.