Source: Official Team Post via X
Lewis Hamilton's Near Miss with Red Bull: Secrets from Christian Horner's Book
Lewis Hamilton's career with Mercedes almost took a different path when his father approached Red Bull in 2012 about a potential partnership with Sebastian Vettel. Christian Horner's new book reveals the behind-the-scenes negotiations that ultimately led Hamilton to join Mercedes instead.
Lewis Hamilton's celebrated partnership with Mercedes might never have happened if a clandestine meeting in 2012 had gone differently. According to Christian Horner's autobiography, _Drive_, Hamilton's father, Anthony, reached out to Red Bull about the possibility of Lewis joining forces with Sebastian Vettel for the 2013 season. Despite the intriguing prospect, the deal was thwarted by financial concerns and objections from Red Bull's Helmut Marko.
Hamilton's journey in Formula 1 began in 2007 with McLaren, where he quickly made waves by challenging for the title in his rookie season. Although he lost to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, he secured the championship the following year. However, the subsequent years saw Hamilton's performance dip, prompting his father and manager Simon Fuller to explore other opportunities. Red Bull became a target, leading to a 'secret' meeting at Adrian Newey's home, attended by Hamilton himself.
In the book, Horner notes that Hamilton seemed disillusioned with McLaren, particularly given his strained relationship with teammate Jenson Button and a series of mechanical failures. The meeting confirmed Hamilton's desire to leave McLaren, and he expressed interest in joining Red Bull.
The prospect of a Vettel-Hamilton pairing was mouth-watering, but the financial implications were significant. Hamilton's commercial appeal added to the allure, yet Horner admits the sums required were daunting. The second hurdle was Marko's reluctance, as he was concerned about the impact on Vettel, his protégé.
Despite these barriers, Horner and Fuller's discussions continued, with Fuller making bold claims about the potential scale of the deal. However, the negotiations didn't progress far, mainly due to the financial demands and Marko's reservations.
Enter Niki Lauda, whose Mercedes team was struggling at the time. Lauda saw the benefit of bringing Hamilton to Mercedes, especially as they were looking to replace the retiring Michael Schumacher. Despite initial concerns over the financial commitment, Lauda believed the investment would pay off through merchandise sales and increased team performance.
Ultimately, Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013, setting off a period of dominance that saw him clinch six world titles and 84 race victories. Horner's revelations offer a fascinating glimpse into how close Hamilton came to rewriting Red Bull's history and how his move to Mercedes became one of the sport's most successful partnerships.