Christian Horner has revealed that he approached Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc about joining Red Bull during the 2024 Formula 1 season, with the former team principal claiming that internal opposition ultimately prevented both moves. Horner believed either driver could have solved the team’s growing concerns over Sergio Pérez’s performances alongside Max Verstappen.
In his upcoming book, Drive, Horner lifts the lid on the transfer plans he claims were derailed by figures within Red Bull. With Pérez struggling to match Verstappen consistently, the former team principal believed the team needed to consider alternative options for its second seat.
According to excerpts published by several media outlets, Horner explored the possibility of recruiting both Alonso and Leclerc, only to encounter resistance from within the organisation.
Horner claims Alonso wanted to join Verstappen
Horner identified Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso as potential candidates to replace Pérez. However, he claims Alonso personally expressed an interest in becoming Verstappen’s team-mate during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend.
“Of the available drivers, I knew Carlos Sainz would be an option – and also Fernando Alonso. At the race in Japan, Fernando even told me himself that he would like to drive alongside Max [Verstappen] next season,” Horner explained.
The former Red Bull boss believed the prospect was worth exploring, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding Pérez’s long-term future with the team.
However, Horner claims that Helmut Marko subsequently intervened, apparently following contact with Verstappen’s management, to make it clear that the proposed partnership was not supported.
“Apparently at the request of Verstappen’s management,” Marko approached Horner and communicated that there was opposition to the idea.
The intervention, as Horner describes it, effectively ended his attempt to bring the two-time world champion to Red Bull for the following season.
Horner believed Leclerc was the perfect Red Bull signing
Alonso was not the only high-profile driver Horner considered. The Briton also explored the possibility of signing Charles Leclerc, whom he believed could have been an ideal addition to the team.
Horner claims that Verstappen himself showed no objection when the idea was discussed, suggesting the Dutchman was comfortable with the prospect of facing a highly competitive team-mate.
“I felt he could be the perfect driver for us. When I told Max about this idea, he didn’t seem to mind,” Horner wrote.
According to Horner, Verstappen had effectively given the proposal his approval. He therefore believed the decision to pursue Leclerc should have been based on what was best for Red Bull competitively.
However, he claims that another message from Marko brought the plan to an abrupt halt.
“But shortly after, I received a message from Helmut telling me to forget about Charles as well. It wouldn’t happen like it did with Fernando. And I knew immediately that this statement didn’t come from Max. He had the confidence to compete with any driver. But someone, somewhere, decided that it wouldn’t have been the right move for Red Bull,” Horner claimed.
The former team principal believes the opposition came from higher up within the organisation, although his account does not establish precisely who ultimately made the decision.
Red Bull’s driver dilemma became increasingly complicated
Pérez’s struggles during the 2024 season placed Red Bull under growing pressure to find a more consistent second driver. While Verstappen remained the team’s principal championship contender, the gap between the two drivers became an increasingly significant issue for the constructors’ championship.
Ultimately, Red Bull retained Pérez for 2025, but his performances failed to improve sufficiently, and the Mexican was replaced by Liam Lawson ahead of the following season before Yuki Tsunoda subsequently took over the seat.
Horner’s account raises questions about whether Red Bull could have pursued a different strategy had his proposed signings received internal support.
A partnership involving Verstappen and either Alonso or Leclerc would have represented a significant change in approach, pairing the Dutchman with another established race winner rather than prioritising a driver expected to support the team’s lead contender.
However, Horner’s recollections are his own account of the discussions. Without independent confirmation from the other people involved, the precise reasons behind Red Bull’s alleged decisions remain unclear.
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