Hamilton accuses Horner of lying about Red Bull’s alleged negotiations with Ferrari

Christian Horner, Red Bull Team Principalenvironment. lewis hamilton I contacted him to see if red bull He was interested in incorporating the seven-time world champion into his team in 2024, along with his great rival. max verstappenHe claimed to have finally spoken to a British representative. Lewis He has signed a contract extension with Mercedes until 2025. Horner went further and asserted that the British player had also made a request to Ferrari. however, Abu Dhabi GPhe Lewis Hamilton himself responded immediately and strongly.

“We’ve had several conversations over the last few years about Lewis joining us. They’ve been in contact a few times as well. Most recently at the beginning of the year, there was a question[from Red Bull]asking if they were interested in Lewis.” ”said Christian Horner in the Daily Mail. And the reply from the Stevenage pilot came quickly.

Hamilton’s reply

“I know it’s from Christian (Horner). I don’t really know what he’s saying because, as far as I know, no one on the team has talked to him and I haven’t had a proper relationship with Christian for years. Because I haven’t talked to you.” Lewis Hamilton commented in a statement to Sky Sports.

“He contacted me at the beginning of the year to meet up and that was it. I just congratulated him on a great year and told him I would love to play against them in the near future. That was it. I’m not sure, but I think he’s just stirring things up. There are no secret discussions. You know Christians. “He loves that kind of thing.”The seven-time F1 world champion accused Horner of wanting to destabilize him with his words.

After a year full of tension and controversy – on track, in press conferences and on the racetrack – against Max and Red Bull, Hamilton makes his eighth F1 debut in a controversial and decisive finale with Verstappen in Abu Dhabi in 2021. He was about to win the title. office. Therefore, few would have wanted to think of both Hamilton and Max sharing a team at Red Bull. That’s what Hamilton was talking about.

The British driver had no problem sharing a team with Max, but moving forward from the difficult position he currently occupies with Mercedes, in a team that made mistakes with the original car concept. He declared that he likes to win by winning. With the new regulations coming into effect in 2022, they are still paying the price for their mistakes, even though they are far from winning.

Hamilton said he was “very happy” to be competing in a car that rivals Verstappen, but said it was a dream. “It’s not a dream. The dream is always to start where you are, build from there and win by then. That’s why I stayed with Mercedes,” Hamilton explained.

Hamilton and Ferrari?

Christian Horner also told the Daily Mail that Lewis had also met with Ferrari manager John Elkann ahead of renewing his contract with Mercedes.

“I think there was a serious conversation. It was in Monaco (in May). There was definitely a conversation, probably with Vasseur (Ferrari Principal Team), but certainly with Elkann. “There was,” Christian said. In fact, when drivers negotiate contract extensions with teams, it’s common for drivers to also ask about the future status of other teams. In fact, Sky Sports claimed in March after the Bahrain Grand Prix dispute that Hamilton was considering a move to Ferrari, a claim Lewis himself quickly denied.

“Mercedes has supported me since I was 13 years old. Last year was a tough year, but I’m still here, and whether this year is tough or not, I’ll be there. They’re still here. They’re the ones making rumors that have no facts. That’s never helpful,” he commented at the time.

“I’m a fighter and I fight as a team. I love the challenge of finding solutions and I still believe that I can put cars where maybe others can’t and I love that challenge. Of course it would be nice to start the season with a great car, but what really matters is the journey,” he added on the spot.Finally, Hamilton and Mercedes announced a contract extension in July.