Red Bull Racing F1 team advisor
Helmut Marko reacted to the rumors that suggested
Aston Martin driver
Fernando Alonso would drive for Red Bull in 2024.
False rumors that surfaced this week after the 2023
Mexico City Grand Prix suggested Fernando Alonso would drive for Red Bull Racing instead of
Sergio Perez in 2024.
These rumors have been denied by Fernando Alonso himself when he talked to the press ahead of the 2023
Sao Paulo Grand Prix at
Interlagos Circuit.
The Spanish matador addressed the situation, saying it is just "normal paddock rumors." He also expressed his irritation,
warning he would make sure there would be consequences for spreading such false rumors.
Advisor of the Red Bull Racing team, Helmut Marko, surprised the media when he suggested the rumors might have been coming from Alonso himself. Marko told F1-insider:
"As for the rumours about Alonso: I can well imagine that Alonso spread them himself because his results with Aston Martin have been very disappointing recently after the brilliant start to the season. It wouldn’t be the first time that he used his home media to create a mood."
The Austrian suggested Alonso used the Spanish media in the past to create a mood in the past. While we probably won't find out where the rumors originated, Marko made clear it will be Perez who drives for the Red Bull team in 2024.
"Once again and for the record: We only have sporting goals in mind that we will keep ourselves busy with until the last race in Abu Dhabi. And they are, we want to win all the races and make it clear to Perez that he is runner-up."
Perez currently leads by 20 points ahead of
Lewis Hamilton in third place in the Drivers' Championship. With four races (including a sprint race in Brazil) remaining in the season,
Perez stated he thinks he can keep Hamilton at bay.