Christian Horner gives honest take on if he'd sign Lewis Hamilton for Red Bull
Christian Horner has given his honest view about signing Lewis Hamilton for Red Bull in the near future.
The seven-time F1 world champion is in his final year with Mercedes and he has been heavily linked with a departure after a poor start to the new season.
Hamilton finished in fifth place in the first two races of the season, in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. After the disappointing first race, he didn't hold back and slated the team for not listening to him.
It led to reports of Mercedes looking into monumental changes to their car's design, as well as Hamilton's teammate George Russell detailing a crunch meeting.
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There's been serious speculation about Hamilton moving on and Red Bull's head honcho Horner was recently asked about whether his team would be interested in his services.
However, with world champion Max Verstappen on a lucrative deal until 2028 and newly crowned Saudi Arabia Grand Prix winner Sergio Perez contracted until 2024, the 49-year-old believes there wouldn't be a spot available.
Speaking on Sky News, he said: “Look, I think what Lewis has achieved in Formula 1 is second to none, but we’re very happy with the drivers that we have – they’re committed as a pair for not only this season but the next season as well,” said Horner.
“I can’t see where we would be able to accommodate Lewis, but I’m sure they’re [Mercedes] going to sort their issues out and we’re certainly not writing him off yet.”
Horner's comments come after Mercedes chief Toto Wolff claimed his firm would have “no grouch” if Hamilton looked to move on should they not be able to upgrade his car and make it competitive again.
Meanwhile, Eddie Jordan has urged Hamilton to move on to pastures new and proposed a direct swap with Charles Leclerc of Ferrari.
“That could be a deal in heaven," he told OLBG.
"I'm sure everyone in F1 would love to see a swap between Hamilton and Leclerc, that would be mouth-watering.
“When I dream of Hamilton going to Ferrari, it is just a thought because he has won seven world championship titles with Mercedes so he might want to stay. Then again, all the great drivers would feel the pull of a great team like Ferrari, that's where I think Hamilton should end up.”
In a 2022 interview Hamilton said it would "nice to race for Ferrari" but stressed that "things happen for a reason".
Hamilton will return to the track next weekend with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Topics: Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Mercedes, Red Bull Racing
Josh Lawless