Lewis Hamilton held secret talks with Red Bull before joining Mercedes in 2013, with the seven-time world champion identifying the team as his preferred destination after deciding to leave McLaren, according to former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
Horner has revealed details of the discussions in his autobiography, Drive, describing how Hamilton appeared increasingly disillusioned with McLaren during a difficult 2012 season marked by mechanical failures and an apparently strained relationship with team-mate Jenson Button.
“I thought he seemed strangely vulnerable for a former world champion,” Horner wrote.
The discussions gathered momentum after a meeting involving Hamilton, Horner and Red Bull technical chief Adrian Newey at Newey’s house near Ascot.
“He was looking to leave McLaren, and we were his preferred destination,” Horner recalled. “What will it take to join you guys?” Hamilton asked.
Newey, Horner added, was enthusiastic about the prospect of pairing Hamilton with Sebastian Vettel, then the reigning world champion. However, the idea faced resistance from Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko, who had played a central role in Vettel’s development.
“Certainly, Helmut looked unimpressed when he heard the news,” Horner wrote, suggesting Marko was concerned about the potential impact on his protégé.
Hamilton was represented in the negotiations by Simon Fuller, whose clients had included David Beckham and Andy Murray. Horner said Fuller presented the potential deal as a landmark sporting agreement, but the financial demands proved a major obstacle.
“Of course, the stumbling block was money,” Horner wrote. “Any deal that brought Lewis to Red Bull would require staggering sums.”
Horner praised Hamilton’s speed, fearlessness in wet conditions and commercial appeal, describing him as “just about the perfect challenger to Sebastian”.
Despite the attraction, Red Bull did not pursue the move aggressively. Hamilton instead joined Mercedes, beginning a partnership that would deliver six of his seven world titles and establish one of Formula One’s most successful driver-team combinations.
