'Request From Hamilton Side Was Serious': Red Bull's Advisory Marko Adds To Controversy

Sunday, 26 November 2023 at 06:00

Updated at Sunday, 26 November 2023 at 12:57

Red Bull Racing Advisory Helmut Marko chimed in on the Lewis Hamilton-Red Bull controversy that sparked in the recent few days.

Lewis Hamilton declined Christian Horner's statement that somebody from his side contacted Red Bull with an inquiry about the second seat in Red Bull.

During a press conference ahead of the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Horner clarified there were never talks with Lewis Hamilton himself, but it was his father who reached out.

Red Bull advisory Helmut Marko who works very close with Christian Horner chiped in on the feud. As quoted by F1-insider, the Austrian said:

"I can only say that Christian Horner told me in January about a text message he received from people around Hamilton."

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Christian Horner suggested he didn't know whether Lewis Hamilton approved the message, but you would expect him and his father to be on the same page. Marko agreed it seemed to be authorized by the Mercedes driver:

"It seemed authorized by the driver, especially because there was talk of a condition that Hamilton set: he only wanted to drive for Red Bull if he got the same material as Max Verstappen. For me, at least there was no doubt that the request from the Hamilton side was serious."

Red Bull's advisory explained even if the interest from Hamilton's side was serious (which he thought it was), the team from Milton Keynes is satisfied with their driver pairing at the moment.

"There were never any considerations about letting Hamilton drive alongside Verstappen. Firstly, we are well positioned with our driver squad, including Sergio Perez."

A few weeks ago, Horner mentioned having "two extreme alphas" in the same team would not be good. Marko put that as the second reason for not wanting Hamilton alongside Max Verstappen and also added a third reason:

"Second, these two alphas wouldn't work in a team. And thirdly, the most important point: Red Bull cannot afford the two most expensive Formula 1 drivers together."

In the end, the Austrian couldn't help but have a small jibe at the Mercedes team, saying it is understandable the seven-time World Champion would be interested in the team that promises greatest success.