Lewis Hamilton accuses Christian Horner of ‘stirring things’ after the Red Bull chief claimed the seven-time world champion pursued a move to the team… as he denies the reports and insists there were NO talks

• Lewis Hamilton signed a new two-year-deal with Mercedes earlier this year 
• Red Bull chief Christian Horner claimed Hamilton wanted to move to his team 
• Hamilton denied these reports and took aim at the 50-year-old for his comments 

Lewis Hamilton has hit out at Christian Horner after the Red Bull chief claimed the seven-time world champion was keen to join the team from Mercedes.

The revelations came in Mail Sport’s exclusive interview with Horner, when the 50-year-old said that a representative of Hamilton contacted Red Bull about him partnering Max Verstappen at the world championship-winning team.

Hamilton, 38, ultimately signed a new £50million-per-year two-year deal with Mercedes in August, insisting that was the only place he wanted to see out his career.

However, when questioned on Horner’s claims ahead of the final Grand Prix of the 2023 season in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton – who hasn’t won a race for two years with Mercedes – accused the Red Bull team boss of ‘stirring’ the pot.

‘I don’t really know where that story’s come from,’ he told Sky Sports F1. ‘I don’t really understand what he’s been talking about because no one from my team as far as I’m aware has spoken to him.

Lewis Hamilton has hit out at Christian Horner for claiming he wanted to move to Red Bull

Horner said a representative of Hamilton asked about becoming Max Verstappen’s team-mate 

‘I haven’t spoken to Christian, really, in years. However, he did reach out to me earlier in the year about meeting up, but that’s it. 

‘I just congratulated them on an amazing year and said hopefully soon I’ll be able to fight against them in the near future – that was it.

‘So I’m not really sure, I think it’s just stirring things.’

When pressed further, Hamilton was insistent no talks had been held with Horner and claimed he wouldn’t be interested in making the move anyway.

He added: ‘There aren’t any confidential discussions. You know Christian, he loves that kind of stuff. 

‘100 per cent I would be more than happy to race against Max Verstappen in an equal car. 

‘For me Red Bull, they’ve done an amazing job and anyone would love to drive for such a great group of people.

‘But, I think moving from a car that’s not so great to a winning car is not a dream for me.

‘The dream is to always start where we are and build up to them winning and that’s why I’ve stayed with Mercedes.’

Meanwhile, Mail Sport had reported in May that Hamilton and Ferrari also had dialogue about doing a deal – explicitly denied by the driver and the Scuderia’s team principal Fred Vasseur at the time.

The seven-time world champion insisted Horner was simply ‘stirring things’ with his claims

Hamilton signed a new two-year contract with Mercedes in August worth £50m-per-year

But this was backed up by Horner, who told Mail Sport in the aforementioned interview: ‘We have had several conversations over the years about Lewis joining. 

‘They have reached out a few times. Most recently, earlier in the year, there was an inquiry about whether there would be any interest.

‘He met John Elkann (Ferrari chairman), too. I think there were serious talks.  It was around Monaco (in May). There were definitely conversations, perhaps with Vasseur, too. But certainly with Elkann.

‘But I can’t see Max and Lewis working out together. The dynamic wouldn’t be right. We are 100 per cent happy with what we have.’   

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