Another team change for Alonso? It will not be to go to Red Bull.
Fernando Alonso ends his contract with Alpine this season and, as it could not be otherwise, he is already beginning to be linked with other teams that could offer him a better car. When thinking about possible structures to which he would go, fantasy is not lacking either: before Sainz renewed with Ferrari, someone said that he could return to the Maranello team, and now there is talk of Red Bull.
In the energy drinks team, Max Verstappen has a guaranteed seat, but not his partner, Sergio Pérez, who also ends his contract this season. This, together with an encounter between Alonso and Christian Horner (head of the energy drinks team) has led to rumors of a possible signing of the Spaniard by Red Bull, which Horner has been in charge of denying.
The Briton has done it in Miami, where he has been questioned about this matter by Sky Sports F1, according to Motorsport Week, and has been blunt: “This is new to me (the rumour). We are happy with the drivers we have. Fernando is a great driver, it’s fantastic that he’s still in Formula 1 at 40, it’s something to aspire to, but it doesn’t fit into our plans.”
Horner also added that he is in contact with Flavio Briatore, who continues to work with Alonso, but because of their friendly relationship, and insisted that “we are currently focused on our drivers”, dropping that the renewal of Sergio Pérez for at least one more season may be closer than we think.
Although the relationship between Alonso and Red Bull in recent years has been a bit tense, it has not been a few times that the two-time F1 champion has been able to sign for the energy drink team. His rejection is what has probably caused some tension between both parties.
Horner even admitted several years ago that he was very close to signing Alonso in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012, and possible talks continued to be rumored later. The agreement never materialized due to differences that, according to what Helmut Marko said on his day, were related to the economy and the duration of the contracts.
Would it make sense for Alonso to sign for Red Bull now? On the one hand he would have a competitive car, that is clear, but on the other hand he would share a team with the right eye of the team, Max Verstappen, who also just became F1 World Champion. And what Alonso has started in Alpine, would stay halfway again…
Whatever he is thinking about for his future, it is clear that until the renewal (or not) of the Asturian by Alpine is known, we will read endless rumours, and many will be as crazy as the one about the signing of Alonso by Red Bull .
