Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, and more: All F1 elite talents that were in line for a Red Bull seat

By Pranay

October 21, 2026 3 Min Read

Red Bull Racing has a history of promoting drivers to F1 from its stable of young talents. Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen, and Pierre Gasly are just a few names from a long list. However, this direction has led to many Red Bull passing up F1 talents like Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton from joining the team.

Christian Horner recently came out and gave multiple interviews ahead of the launch of his autobiography Drive, in which he revealed how many elite F1 drivers were in line for a Red Bull seat. The Briton also detailed the reasons as to why these drivers weren’t signed by the Milton Keynes-based outfit. Let’s have a look at this list.

#1 Lewis Hamilton wanted to join Red Bull ahead of 2013

Christian Horner detailed how Lewis Hamilton wasn’t content with McLaren after a poor start to the 2012 season. The Briton was considering his options, and explained his wish to join Red Bull. A secret meeting happened between Adrian Newey, Horner and Hamilton.

While Adrian Newey was ecstatic to boast a Vettel-Hamilton lineup for the 2013 season, Helmut Marko was keen on promoting from the Red Bull junior team. What eventually stopped the Milton Keynes-based outfit from signing Hamilton was the huge amount of money they’d have to pay to get the Briton.

“When a secret meeting was then called, with Lewis, at Adrian [Newey]’s house near Ascot, my gut instinct was confirmed. He was looking to leave McLaren, and we were his preferred destination,” said Horner

“Of course, the stumbling block was money. Any deal that brought Lewis to Red Bull would require staggering sums,” he added

#2 Kimi Raikkonen was reportedly a target to replace Mark Webber ahead of the 2014 season

With Kimi Raikkonen almost bankrupting Lotus given the points bonus in his contract, and Mark Webber being out of contract at the end of 2013, the Iceman was reportedly considered to partner Sebastian Vettel for the 2014 season.

Red Bull had to make the decision on whether to sign Raikkonen or promote from the junior team. The Milton Keynes outfit decided on promoting then Toro Rosso driver Daniel Ricciardo to replace Mark Webber.

#3 George Russell, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri impressed Red Bull

George Russell, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are some of the top talents of the current generation of drivers, and climbed the Formula ladder relatively at the same time. However, none of them was part of the Red Bull Junior team.

Christian Horner, on the High Performance podcast, revealed how all three of these drivers were using Red Bull’s simulator while racing in the junior formula series. The former Team Principal explained how a member at the team detailed how all three of them were better than any of the young prospects they had at the junior team then.

“I remember George Russell was paying us to go on our simulator, and as was Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, they were, the dads were writing checks for them to run on these, on the driver simulator that we had, and the guy that was looking after it was coming up to me and saying, ‘Christian, these kids are better than the juniors that we’ve got at the moment.’ I don’t remember taking them to Helmut, and going, look, I really think you should look at these guys,” said Christian Horner

#4 Christian Horner wanted to have Fernando Alonso or Charles Leclerc as Sergio Perez’s replacement

Red Bull sacked Sergio Perez after the 2024 season. Christian Horner detailed how he wanted Fernando Alonso or Charles Leclerc to partner Max Verstappen. However, Helmut Marko and Verstappen’s camp stopped the same from happening. Explaining the same, Horner said,

“In Japan, Fernando told me he was really eager to race alongside Max the following season. Someone decided it wasn’t the right step for Red Bull. It disappointed me”