Hamilton Sr approached us – Horner

CHRISTIAN Horner claims Lewis Hamilton cannot be blamed for considering a blockbuster switch to Red Bull following Mercedes’ failure to provide him with a winning machine.

Red Bull team principal Horner said on Friday that Hamilton’s father Anthony made an inquiry about the availability of a seat alongside Max Verstappen at the grid’s all-conquering team.

Verstappen has won the past three world titles, while Hamilton last won a race at the penultimate round of the 2021 season in Saudi Arabia.

“I’ve known Anthony Hamilton for 15 years and I don’t think he was enquiring about himself to come and drive,” said Horner, below, of Anthony, who managed his son earlier in his career.

“I don’t know who represents who, but with the surname you would think they are reasonably close. Anthony is a good guy, a proud father and inevitably when drivers go through tough spots – and Lewis has not won for two years – questions will be asked up and down the paddock.

“Lewis is the most successful driver of all time and he hasn’t won a grand prix since 2021.

“You have not got to be a rocket scientist to work that out and I doubt I was the only one that an inquiry was made to.”

Red Bull will head into the season finale having failed to win just one of the 21 rounds so far. Verstappen has triumphed on 18 occasions – a record for any driver during a single campaign.

Hamilton’s Mercedes team are in a state of flux, but the seventime world champion signed a two-year deal with the Silver Arrows, worth £100 million, in August. Sergio Perez is contracted to Red Bull for 2024.

On Thursday, Hamilton denied seeking a move to Red Bull and claimed it was instead Horner who approached him.

Horner added: “It is entirely normal for drivers and drivers’ representatives to have different conversations during the year.

“There was never a seat available and never any engagement. There are many drivers we hear from during the course of the year.

“We have not had any serious discussions with Lewis and there was never a seat available.”

Meanwhile, Somerset driver Lando Norris, in his McLaren, was just edged out at the top of the timesheets by Charles Leclerc in practice for tomorrow’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Verstappen was third quickest.