Christian Horner Wanted Alonso and Leclerc for Red Bull

Christian Horner, the former team principal of Red Bull Racing, disclosed in his forthcoming book that he sought to recruit Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc for the team's 2025 seat. However, both attempts were unsuccessful due to internal opposition.

During the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix, Alonso expressed his desire to race alongside Max Verstappen, but Horner faced resistance from Helmut Marko, who reportedly acted on behalf of Verstappen's management. Following this, Horner turned his attention to Leclerc, whom he considered a strong candidate due to his speed and team-oriented attitude. Unfortunately, he received a similar response from Marko regarding Leclerc.

With both drivers unavailable, Red Bull opted for Liam Lawson, a decision Horner later regretted due to Lawson's lack of experience. Horner also mentioned Carlos Sainz as a potential candidate for 2026, highlighting the challenges he faced in driver selection during his tenure.