Last Updated:
Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner revealed in his new book that Lewis Hamilton wanted to join Red Bull before moving to Mercedes for the 2013 season.
Lewis Hamilton takes part in the drivers parade before the Singapore F1 GP. (AP Photo)
Could Lewis Hamilton have been teammates with Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull Racing?
Well, if former Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has to be believed then a blockbuster potential move involving Hamilton that never materialised ahead of the 2013 season, could have paired the Briton with German Vettel.
Hamilton, one of Formula 1’s most successful drivers, has won a joint-record seven world championships, including six with Mercedes. His achievements with the German team have made their partnership one of the most successful in the sport’s history.
Hamilton left McLaren at the end of the 2012 season after representing the team since 2007 and winning his maiden world championship in 2008.
In his new autobiography, DriveHorner described how Hamilton appeared increasingly dissatisfied at McLaren, with his relationship with teammate Jenson Button also seemingly under strain.
“Lewis Hamilton seemed to be losing heart at McLaren,” Horner wrote. “From the outside, his relationship with Jenson Button looked strained, and his head was dropping after a series of mechanical failures throughout 2012. I occasionally bumped into him at races, and we were always friendly (despite his comment about Red Bull being just a drinks company), but I thought he seemed strangely vulnerable for a former world champion.”
Red Bull Preferred Destination For Hamilton
At A Glance
Lewis Hamilton held a ‘secret’ meeting at Adrian Newey’s house to discuss joining Red Bull Racing ahead of the 2013 season.
By 2012, Lewis Hamilton had accumulated seventeen Grand Prix victories and nineteen pole positions as a Formula 1 driver.
Financial demands and the potential cost of the contract ultimately proved to be a major obstacle to finalizing the Red Bull deal.
Horner revealed that Hamilton’s interest in leaving McLaren led to a confidential meeting at the home of Red Bull design chief Adrian Newey near Ascot.
“Then, while checking my phone for missed calls and messages one day, I noticed his father’s number on the screen and wondered whether Lewis was experiencing a change of opinion regarding Red Bull,” he wrote.
“When a secret meeting was then called with Lewis at Adrian (Newey)’s house near Ascot, my gut instinct was confirmed. He was looking to leave McLaren, and we were his preferred destination. ‘What will it take to join you guys?’ he said, as we sat down. Adrian, who is not known for his poker face, looked ecstatic. I could hardly blame him. A driver pairing of Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton was a tantalising prospect,” Horner added.
Simon Fuller, who has previously been associated with the likes of David Beckham and Andy Murray, was representing Hamilton during the discussions.
However, the prospect of bringing Hamilton to Red Bull did not receive universal enthusiasm within the team.
Horner recalled a difference of opinion with Red Bull Racing adviser Helmut Marko, who had been credited with discovering Vettel, the reigning world champion at the time.
“Certainly, Helmut looked unimpressed when he heard the news,” Horner wrot.
“Lewis’s arrival would likely impact Sebastian, his protégé, and he was clearly feeling apprehensive. Intrigued, I tested the waters anyway. Simon was known to be a softly spoken person, but his opening gambit caused my ears to ring. ‘You and I can do the biggest sports deal since Muhammad Ali,’ he said boldly. I laughed, having grown familiar with the sports-agent vernacular. Simon was going to make a lot of money. And Red Bull would have to spend a fortune,” he added.
Despite mouthwatering commercial opportunities that Hamilton’s arrival could bring, Horner admitted he did not push the proposal particularly hard.
He believed, however, that another figure could be interested in making the deal happen.
“Despite the undeniable marketing upside, I didn’t pursue the idea with any real forcefulness. But the Lewis deal was going to appeal to someone. And I had a good idea of who that someone might be.”
Horner also outlined the qualities that made Hamilton an attractive prospect for Red Bull and why he believed the British driver would have been a strong counterpart to Vettel.
By 2012, Hamilton had established himself as one of Formula 1’s biggest names. He won four races during his debut season with McLaren in 2007 and, five years later, had developed into an elite competitor renowned for his exceptional speed.
At that stage, Hamilton was the 2008 world champion, with seventeen Grand Prix victories and nineteen pole positions to his name.
“Lewis had transformed into an iconic figure (by 2012), having won four races during his 2007 debut season with McLaren. Five years on, he was an elite racer known for his explosive pace, and arguably one of the competition’s fastest ever drivers. He was the 2008 world champion, the winner of seventeen Grands Prix, and the holder of nineteen pole positions,” Horner wrote.
He further praised Hamilton’s ability in wet conditions, his fearless approach and his capacity to get the maximum performance out of his car. Beyond his racing credentials, Horner considered Hamilton a major commercial asset, given his presence in numerous billboard campaigns and television advertisements.
“As a driver, he was fantastic in the wet, fearless, and able to extract the absolute maximum from his car. He was also a commercial dream. Lewis was the face of countless billboard campaigns and TV adverts. Overall, he was just about the perfect challenger to Sebastian,” he added.
Financial Demands Proved a Major Obstacle
While Newey was particularly keen on strengthening Red Bull’s driver line-up with Hamilton, the financial implications presented a significant challenge.
Horner acknowledged that the potential benefits of signing the British driver were clear, but the cost of completing such a deal would have been enormous.
“Adrian, forever looking to improve the quality of drivers at Red Bull, was particularly enthusiastic. I couldn’t blame him. Of course, the stumbling block was money. Any deal that brought Lewis to Red Bull would require staggering sums,” Horner added.
Ultimately, the financial demands proved to be a major obstacle and Hamilton eventuallly joined Mercedes ahead of the 2013 season.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The blockbuster move failed primarily because the financial demands required to bring Lewis Hamilton to Red Bull involved staggering sums of money that proved to be a major obstacle.
Ask News18About the Author
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More
October 20, 2026, 2:00 PM IST
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
