The British automobile director of the Max Verstappen team is thinking of a possible successor to Checo Pérez in Formula 1
Fernando Alonso, the two-time world champion that ended the reign of Michael Schumacher in 2005 and 2006, was at the time the object of desire of Red Bull. However, the Spanish Formula 1 star “missed the opportunity” to join the team before its championship-winning streak, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner recalls.
Red Bull tried to sign alonso during his troubled season with McLaren when it became clear that the relationship was not going to last. However, Alonso, with his sights set on joining Ferrari, wanted a one-year contract while Red Bull looked for a long-term commitment. Alonso’s refusal to commit to Red Bull’s two-year contract ended the talks.
The return to the negotiating table with Fernando Alonso
Despite the collapse of the first negotiations, Alonso’s representatives approached Red Bull Two years later. Horner also recalls another conversation in the “back of an Alfa Romeo” a few years later. However, none of these negotiations came to fruition. According to Horner, Alonso “missed the opportunity” given that Red Bull won four world championships between 2010 and 2013.
“We were very close,” said the Red Bull team boss in an interview “We thought he had a very clear contract to go to Ferrari in 2009,” added Horner. After failed negotiations with Red Bull, Alonso joined Renault, the team that Flavio Briatore was managing at the time. However, midway through 2009, he approached Horner to say that he might join the team next year. However, once again, the negotiations did not come to fruition.
What would have happened if Alonso had joined Red Bull?
If Alonso had joined Red Bull in 2008, he could have taken several podiums and wins. For 2010, Sebastian Vettel won his first world title with Red Bull, followed by three others in a four-year run. During that same period, Alonso won two races with Renault and then joined Ferrari, where he finished second to Vettel three times.
It has been said several times that Alonso has a reputation for making bad choices. of career in Formula 1. According to Eddie Jordan, former F1 team boss, Alonso could have won “four, six or even eight” world championships if he had “choosed his teams better”. Alonso countered that claim by saying that “out of the 20 years I’ve been in F1, I’ve only had four frustrated years.