Lewis Hamilton has denied seeking a mouth-watering move to Red Bull – instead claiming the world championship-winning team approached him.
The seven-time world champion was responding to Mail Sport’s revelation on Wednesday in which Red Bull team principal Christian Horner claimed someone close to Hamilton had been in touch to inquire whether they had a seat available.
That was earlier in the year when Hamilton’s contract negotiations with Mercedes were dragging on. The 38-year-old has since penned a new deal to keep him at the Silver Arrows until the end of 2025 for £50million a year.
Hamilton, in the paddock ahead of Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, said: ‘Christian messaged me.
‘I would be more than happy to race against Max (Verstappen) in the same car. That would be wonderful. But I don’t think he wants me to be his team-mate.’
Lewis Hamilton has hit out at Christian Horner for claiming he wanted to move to Red Bull
Horner said a representative of Hamilton asked about becoming Max Verstappen’s team-mate
Asked if he had approached Red Bull, Hamilton said: ‘No. I did not.
‘I checked with everyone in my team and nobody has spoken to them but they have tried to reach out to us.’
That first part of that statement may technically be true, but it is believed to have been Hamilton’s father Anthony, rather than a paid member of his staff, who contacted Horner.
The plot thickens, with Hamilton claiming: ‘I picked up my old phone which I just found at home. It has my old number. I switched it on and hundreds of messages came through and one was from Christian to get together and have a catch-up at the end of the season.’
Why Horner would want to speak to Hamilton at the end of the campaign is unclear to say the least.
Pressed on whether Horner had specifically brought up the idea of driving for them, Hamilton said: ‘He just said about having a catch-up.’
Asked whether he thought it strange Horner had mentioned his name this week, the Briton said: ‘Not really. If you think about it there are a lot of people here who like to drop my name in conversations because they know it will make waves. And 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’s stirring things.
‘I did tell Toto (about the claimed contact). I have so much respect for him and we have a great relationship. If people think those things (about leaving) it is never positive.
‘I replied to him (Horner) on my new phone. It was months later. I just said congratulations on the amazing season and that I hope we are able to compete with you soon, and he replied repeating the same thing (presumably about catching up).
‘Just stepping into the best car wouldn’t do much for me. Working with my team to beat them would be better for my legacy.’
The seven-time world champion insisted Horner was simply ‘stirring things’ with his claims
Hamilton signed a new two-year contract with Mercedes in August worth £50m-per-year
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