Fernando Alonso Criticism Unfair, Former F1 Boss Slams Christian Horner

Flavio Briatore has come down hard on Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner for his comments on Fernando Alonso amid speculation that the double Formula 1 world champion could return to the sport in the future. The Spaniard quit F1 at the end of the 2018 season in order to pursue other forms of motorsport.

Alonso’s name has been mentioned on more than one occasion this season in connection with potential vacancies at both Ferrari and Red Bull next season but both teams have denied they are on the lookout for a new recruit. Horner was asked about the former Renault driver’s potential return and the Briton was quite harsh in his assessment.

Horner said Alonso had the tendency to bring “chaos” to all the teams he drove for, referring to his relationship with Honda chiefs when he drove for McLaren from 2015 to 2018. The Spaniard also shared a frosty relationship with former McLaren boss Ron Dennis and Lewis Hamilton during his first stint with the Woking-based team in 2007.

Briatore, who was Alonso’s boss during his two title triumphs with Renault, still holds some interest in the Spaniard’s management and he believes Horner had no right to speak ill of his client. He feels Alonso should not be blamed for the McLaren–Honda partnership failing to work as cohesively as Red Bull is functioning with the Japanese manufacturer.

“I heard Horner speak negatively about Alonso and I think that’s remarkable,” Briatore told Italy’s Radio Sportiva, as quoted on Grand Prix 247. “I think back to when I made sure that his team got Renault engines. I can’t stand that someone like Horner talks badly about someone like Fernando."

“Fernando is not only a good driver, but also a real team player. McLaren and Honda were simply not a good match – well, that can happen,” the former Renault boss added.

Briatore acknowledged that the Red Bull–Honda partnership has the potential to be title contenders in the future but made it clear that it does not give them the right to speak badly about other drivers. He also pointed to the team demoting and promoting drivers at will – in 2019 they demoted Pierre Gasly from Red Bull to Toro Rosso and promoted Alex Albon.