Some Drivers Offered To Race For Red Bull For Free Horner Suggests

Tuesday, 02 January 2024 at 04:00

The team principal of the championship-winning team, Christian Horner, recently suggested that Red Bull has received a few free offers from drivers to race for Red Bull.

Red Bull Racing is currently the most attractive team for drivers in F1. Having the dominant car in the 2022 and 2023 seasons meant the battle for the Championship was essentially only between the two Red Bull teammates, as nobody else was able to compete with RB19.

RB19 drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez won 21 out of 22 races of the season, almost completing a clean sweep. The only race Red Bull didn't win was the Singapore Grand Prix.

In 2024, Perez's contract with Red Bull expires and despite the fact that racing alongside Verstappen is one of the toughest jobs in the pit lane, many drivers would like to get the second seat in Red Bull. Horner told Sky Sports:

"2024 is a big year. A lot of drivers' contracts are coming to a close. We've got great talent in our own stable. Of course, the car is very attractive for other drivers to want to be in."

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When Asked whether there have been echoes of Ayrton Senna's offering to drive for Williams for free, the Red Bull Racing team principal responded: "There's been a little bit of that, but there's no guarantees of anything."

Ayrton Senna won three championships with the McLaren F1 team in the years 1988, 1989, and 1991, but then his team lost the edge over its competitors, and Senna didn't have a competitive car anymore.

Williams was the new fastest team with the dominant car, and Senna famously made an offer to drive for the team for free in order to have a chance of winning the Championship again.

So when Horner said, "There has been a little bit of that," it suggests some drivers have made similar offers to him and his team in recent years.

On the other hand, the Brit says the seat currently belongs to Perez, and it depends purely on his own performance whether he will keep or lose the seat.