Hamilton Nearly Joined Red Bull Before Mercedes Deal, Horner Reveals

Christian Horner, the former Red Bull Team Principal and CEO, has opened up about a previously unknown chapter in Lewis Hamilton's career, indicating that the British driver had sought to join the energy drink-backed outfit before ultimately signing with Mercedes.

The disclosure suggests that Hamilton's path to becoming one of Formula One's most decorated drivers involved consideration of multiple options during the 2012 off-season. Rather than immediately committing to Mercedes, Hamilton apparently explored the possibility of driving for Red Bull, then the sport's dominant force under Sebastian Vettel's stewardship.

Horner's revelation provides insight into the competitive landscape of driver recruitment during that period, when Red Bull was at the height of its performance. The timing proved consequential, as Hamilton's eventual move to Mercedes in 2013 marked the beginning of an eight-year partnership that would establish him as a six-time world champion with the Brackley-based team.

The detail underscores how career decisions at the elite level of motorsport hinge on complex negotiations and circumstances beyond drivers' immediate control. Hamilton's subsequent success with Mercedes, including multiple championship titles and numerous records, demonstrated that his ultimate destination proved transformative for both the driver and the team.

Photo: Christian Horner, then Red Bull Racing team principal, on stage at the British Embassy in Tokyo, October 2013. UK in Japan - FCO via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).