Fernando Alonso hopes for apology from Red Bull F1 team management
Fernando Alonso hopes Red Bull Formula 1 team principal Christian Horner will apologise for criticising him, and has given more details of offers he claims to have had from RBR
Double F1 world champion Alonso says he has had two approaches from Red Bull in 2018, including one this month after Daniel Ricciardo's departure.
Red Bull denies this, and while it was considering Ricciardo's replacement Horner described Alonso as "not the healthiest choice" for his team.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motorsport advisor, also recently said that Alonso's "demands were very tedious" when talks were actually held with him a decade ago, and accused the Spaniard of turning his teams into "a one-man show".
Alonso said that criticism was at odds with the interest Red Bull had shown in him.
"Yes I had a couple of offers from Red Bull," Alonso told Sky Sport F1.
"In fact I had in 2007, in 2009, in 2011, '13, and two this year, one in Monaco, and one in August.
"So I'm happy you asked me this question, because the comments of Christian Horner this summer and Mr Marko are completely out of context, surprise comments about me creating chaos, [being a] difficult man to work with.
"One, they never worked with me, and secondly they've been chasing me for five or six occasions in the last seven years, and now they say that, that they are loyal to their programme and their commitments and their junior drivers.
"It has been weird, it has been unfair to me.
"I wrote to Christian after his comments this summer, he apologised by email, and hopefully he'll apologise again this weekend."
Horner insisted on Friday at Spa that there was no offer, despite representations from Flavio Briatore - Alonso's long-time manager - and F1's management.
"Obviously Flavio reached out, even FOM reached out, but it was clear from the onset," Horner told Channel 4.
"We did offer Fernando Alonso a contract, but that was back in 2007! To my knowledge, no one within Red Bull has offered him one since.
"He's a wonderful driver, he's a great talent, but it just doesn't fit the profile of our team, our investment in youth and the junior programme that's been so successful over the last 10 years."
Red Bull has chosen to promote Pierre Gasly from Toro Rosso to take Ricciardo's place next year.
Share Or Save This Story
Krack: Aston Martin F1 team no longer in “no-man’s land”
Gasly rues costly floor damage from Ocon contact in F1 Japanese GP
How an F1 underachiever became a Japanese political player
Why Aston Martin must "take the positives" from its modest Japanese GP progress
Alonso: Suzuka driving challenge "gone" with 2026 F1 cars
What's next for Aston Martin and Honda after torrid start to F1 2026?
Verstappen will 'take time' to consider his F1 future
Verstappen: F1 rule changes for Miami GP are "just a tickle"
The current parallels between Red Bull and a post-Schumacher Benetton
Verstappen will 'take time' to consider his F1 future
Do new F1 fans really care less about the sound and technical side of F1?
The key threats facing F1 with thunderstorms forecast for Miami GP
Hamilton wants "a seat at the table" for F1 drivers in rules talks - but is it viable?
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments