Horner says Red Bull rejected Alonso and Leclerc moves

Christian Horner says Red Bull rejected his efforts to recruit Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc as potential teammates for Max Verstappen, according to his forthcoming memoir, Drive. Horner’s account describes both approaches as blocked after Helmut Marko told him the options would not proceed, but it does not independently establish who made the final decisions or why. Horner writes that he began looking for alternatives as Sergio Perez’s performance came under scrutiny. During the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, Alonso told him he wanted to drive alongside Verstappen the following season, Horner says. He then says Marko conveyed that Verstappen’s management was opposed to the idea. Horner next considered Charles Leclerc, whom he describes as fast, determined and committed to Ferrari. He says Marko later told him to forget pursuing the Ferrari driver as well. Horner says he did not believe the instruction about Leclerc came from Verstappen, adding that he was disappointed the move would not happen. The memoir account does not establish whether Marko was conveying the views of others or making the decisions himself. Nor does it provide a direct account from Marko, Verstappen’s...