In a forthcoming chapter of his memoir, Drive, former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner asserts that Lewis Hamilton sought a transfer to Red Bull prior to joining Mercedes. He describes a clandestine meeting that occurred at Adrian Newey’s residence near Ascot.
Horner recounts that in 2012, Hamilton appeared disengaged at McLaren, and his strained rapport with teammate Jenson Button, coupled with recurring mechanical problems, intensified an already challenging season. A missed call from Hamilton’s father, Anthony, prompted the secret discussion.
Horner adds that the secret meeting, held at Adrian’s house near Ascot, confirmed his intuition: Hamilton intended to depart McLaren and considered Red Bull his ideal new team.
Hamilton asked, ‘What will it take to join you guys?’ During the conversation, Adrian, rarely expressive, appeared exhilarated.
Pairing Hamilton with reigning champion Sebastian Vettel seemed an enticing prospect, yet Helmut Marko opposed the notion.
Horner notes that Helmut appeared unimpressed upon hearing the news, as Hamilton’s potential arrival would likely affect Sebastian, his protege, who evidently felt uneasy.
He also points out that financial considerations became a major hurdle; any agreement would demand massive sums, leading Horner to refrain from vigorously pursuing the proposal.
Horner adds that the Hamilton‑Red Bull deal would have appealed to another party, whom he suspected.
The prospective suitor was Mercedes, where Ross Brawn and Niki Lauda were influential. Hamilton departed McLaren at the end of 2012, amassed six of his seven world championships with the Brackley-based team, and later moved to Ferrari in 2025.
Also Read
- Bavuma’s Masterful 179 Anchors South Africa’s Stirring Fightback Against Australia
- Rams TE Terrance Ferguson’s IR Return Delayed, Recovery Timeline Extended
- Syko Stu Clarifies He Did Not Forgive Raja Jackson, Discusses Recovery From Attack
- Shreyas Iyer Backs Samson and Sharma as India’s T20I Openers, Says Sooryavanshi’s Time Will Come
