Red Bull boss Christian Horner has reaffirmed his position that only once has Fernando Alonso been offered a seat at the team, despite the Spaniard’s claims.
In an interview with Sky Sports, the double world champion, who will leave the grid at the end of this year, suggested he had multiple approaches by the Anglo-Austrian squad in 2007, ’09, ’11 and ’13 before twice more this season.
Alonso then asked for an apology from Horner over his comments where he denied any Red Bull interest in the 37-year-old because he has a reputation for “creating chaos” and is a “difficult man to work with”, that was not forthcoming.
“I’m not quite sure, maybe [Toro Rosso team principal] Franz [Tost] has made him an offer. There was no offer from Red Bull Racing this year,” Christian told the British broadcaster in response.
“Fernando Alonso is a great driver, he is one of the best Grand Prix drivers out there. But he just doesn’t fit the profile of our team, the investment we have in youth, in a junior team with Toro Rosso. I think it will be sad for him to leave F1.
“But there was certainly never any offer on the table from Red Bull Racing.”
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If any contact had been had between the driver and the team, Horner also maintains it was not his side which instigated it.
“I had a couple of conversations with [Alonso’s manager] Flavio [Briatore who] was obviously looking around. There was an enquiry that came from FOM immediately following Daniel’s announcement,” he said.
“But the situation was always very clear that Fernando doesn’t fit in our thoughts and our future so there was never any offer.
“Why Fernando’s chosen to say that I’m not sure, I’m not sure whom he had the offer from.”
