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FILE– Crimson Bull group principal Christian Horner. REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger
Crimson Bull group chief Christian Horner on Friday admitted he had not been approached by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton about joining his team.
He additionally made clear the one contact he acquired had come from his father Anthony Hamilton, who ended his administration of his son’s racing profession in 2010.
Chatting with reporters throughout a information convention on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Horner admitted he had had no “severe dialogue” with Hamilton.
This got here after Horner had informed the Day by day Mail newspaper that there had been “an inquiry” from Hamilton about the potential for driving for Crimson Bull subsequent season, earlier than he signed a two-year extension to his contract with Mercedes.
Hamilton on Thursday denied these claims, suggesting Horner was “stirring issues up”.
“I’ve not approached Christian. I haven’t spoken to Christian for years,” he mentioned.
“I’ve checked with everybody and nobody from my group has reached out to him. There aren’t any confidential discussions. You already know Christian… he loves that form of stuff.”
On Friday, Horner mentioned: “It’s outstanding how a lot traction this has bought so thanks to the Day by day Mail for going completely giant on this merchandise.
“I imply, it’s a query of ‘He mentioned, she mentioned, who mentioned, what mentioned’… It’s totally regular for drivers, drivers’ representatives and drivers’ mother and father to have completely different conversations through the course of the yr.”
Hamilton has pushed for Mercedes since becoming a member of from McLaren for the 2013 season, successful six drivers’ world titles with the group.
“And look, you already know, we haven’t had any severe dialogue with Lewis. There was by no means a seat accessible,” added Horner.
“I’ve identified Anthony Hamilton for a few years. He’s a great man. He’s a proud racing father and inevitably, when drivers undergo powerful spots — and let’s face it, Lewis hasn’t received a Grand Prix for 2 years — it’s inevitable questions will likely be requested up and down the paddock.
“However there was by no means any engagement and I don’t know who represents who or what, however with the identical surname, you’d assume they had been fairly shut…
“It’s tough to say, however apart from pleasantries, there was no particular ‘Can I drive for Crimson Bull subsequent yr?’.”
‘Doubt I used to be just one’
Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton (L) and Crimson Bull Racing’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen have fun on the rostrum after the Method One Mexico Grand Prix. Verstappen received the race whereas Hamilton positioned second. (Picture by CLAUDIO CRUZ / AFP)
He mentioned he didn’t assume Mercedes can be stunned to study that anybody from Hamilton’s group made contact with Crimson Bull.
“He’s probably the most profitable driver of all time and hasn’t received a Grand Prix since 2021 so that you haven’t bought to be a rocket scientist to work that out.
“And I doubt that I used to be the one one which there was an inquiry made to… Now, what the dynamics are inside any given relationship? I don’t know… I’m not aware about that, however inevitably questions are going to be requested.
“There’s not likely rather more to say. Lots has been product of one thing pretty innocuous.”
Horner’s ultimate feedback might have been a response to Hamilton’s abstract on Thursday when the Briton mentioned: “In the event you actually give it some thought, there are lots of people right here who actually prefer to drop my identify in conversations as a result of they know it will make waves.
“And if you’re just a little bit lonely and are usually not getting a lot consideration that’s the excellent factor to do — simply point out my identify.”
Hamilton has constantly pledged his loyalty and help to Mercedes since controversially lacking out on his eighth world title to Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi two years in the past.
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