Lewis Hamilton has categorically denied recent claims by Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner that he had approached the team for a potential move, accusing Horner of seeking attention and “stirring” the F1 community.
Horner had asserted earlier this week that a representative from Hamilton’s camp had inquired about joining Red Bull before the British driver renewed his contract with Mercedes. However, Hamilton, speaking ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, dismissed the allegations, stating, “There are a lot of people here that like to drop my name in conversations because they know it will make waves. If you are a little bit lonely and are not getting much attention, that is the perfect thing to do, just to mention my name. He [Horner] is stirring things.”
Hamilton clarified that he had checked with everyone on his team, and no one had spoken to Red Bull. He also revealed that Horner had reached out to him earlier in the year for a catch-up, but there was no discussion about a potential move to Red Bull.
The seven-time world champion emphasized his commitment to Mercedes, stating that he had signed a new contract in August after thorough negotiations. He revealed that he spoke to Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff after Horner’s comments became public, assuring him that there was no truth in the story.
Addressing the possibility of joining Red Bull and becoming teammates with current world champion Max Verstappen, Hamilton expressed openness to the idea, saying, “I would be more than happy to race against Max in the same car. I don’t think he wants me to be his teammate.”
Hamilton highlighted the challenging past two years for Mercedes and expressed his desire to contribute to building the team back into a winning force, stating that beating Red Bull with his current team would be a more satisfying achievement for his legacy than simply joining the most dominant car.
In a surprising twist, reports also suggest that Red Bull has unmasked Lewis Hamilton’s father, Anthony Hamilton, as the mysterious representative who initiated contact with Christian Horner about a potential move from Mercedes. Lewis has credited Hamilton Sr. for his success, but he no longer holds a formal role in his son’s career decisions.
The ongoing drama adds intrigue to the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, where Hamilton and Mercedes aim to end the season on a high note.
