It is not a big news to say that Red Bull has tried to sign Fernando Alonsowhich competes this weekend in Mexico for its 400th Grand Prix, on several occasions. However, what is newsworthy is that the last time they shot him It was just a few months ago.
This is how he told it Christian Hornerhead of Red Bull, at the dawn of the Mexican GP. It is not just any scenario, since the British leader assures that they tested Alonso to be the replacement for the increasingly questioned Sergio Pérez, who was renewed for two more years until 2026 despite a more than improvable performance.
Horner has recounted two specific moments in which they tried to sign Alonso in his sporting career, before knocking on his door again in 2024.
The first time was in 2007, after Alonso’s tumultuous first season at Lewis Hamilton and Ron Dennis’ McLaren. «Alonso is a formidable competitor, and at the end of his (first) stage at McLaren, I remember going to Madrid and pressuring him to get into our car», Horner said in statements collected by Motorsportweek.com. “We wanted to give him a two-year contract, and he was only willing to sign for one year, and we were convinced that at that time he had a contract with Ferrari in his pocket. We did not reach an agreementand if he had come with us in 2009, maybe things would have been different,” Horner recalls.
When he was already at Ferrari, Alonso received again, not a call but a visit from the top officials at Red Bull: Horner himself and Adrian Neweythe chief engineer of the team who has now just signed for Aston Martin to finally work with Alonso. «I remember meeting him and Adrian (Newey), in the back of a rental car at Spa airport, I think it was around 2011 or 2012, about meeting a Ferrari again, maybe even a early this year,” he recalls.
Candidate to replace Pérez
What has raised blisters, especially in those around Pérez, has been what Horner said about the contacts they had at the beginning of this year.
“Then, Sergio’s contract (Pérez)It had not been renewed, so Fernando was an important asset to take into account. He always wants us to know all his options. Between him and his manager or advisor, Flavio Briatore, they are always testing the market. And that shows how hungry and competitive he is at 43 years old,” praises Horner.
Beyond his age, the Red Bull boss warns that Alonso “continues to be in great shape and shows that age is just a number.” “If they give him the tools, he will be ahead again,” predicts Horner.
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