Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has revealed the extent of talks that took place with Fernando Alonso in 2007.
In the midst of the infamously turbulent year alongside Lewis Hamilton at McLaren and following the revelations of the ‘Spygate’ scandal, the Spaniard was looking for a way of the British team for the following year.
It is no secret that Red Bull was an option for the double world champion, who was seen at their Energy Station motorhome at Spa that year [see above image], but this was before they became the team capable of wins and championships from 2009 onwards.
“They were very demanding, not so much about finances, but more about PR performances and liberties with merchandising and such,” Marko explained to Motorsport-Total of the negotiation with Alonso’s manager Luis Garcia Abad.
“We said: ‘Okay let’s look at the details, you have to send us a contract draft’, we agreed that they had a week.”
However: “After fourteen days there was nothing and nor after three weeks,” the Red Bull advisor claimed. “Then we said to Garcia Abad: ‘Thank you, we do not have to do it anymore’.”
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The decision not to take the risk with Red Bull is often considered worst of Alonso’s career as it was Sebastian Vettel who went on to join in 2009 and win his four championships, two of which came at the expense of the now 37-year-old.
Instead, Fernando would rejoin Renault for 2008 and ’09 before heading to Ferrari in 2010 and finally McLaren again in 2015 where he would end his career after last season.
