Fernando Alonso-Red Bull Racing Contract Offer Saga Takes Another Twist

The Fernando Alonso–Red Bull Racing controversy about offers to drive for the Austrian team continues to brew after the Spaniard revealed multiple offers during an interview with Sky Sports ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 2005 and 2006 F1 Drivers’ champion confirmed he had more than one offer to drive for Red Bull next season, but rejected them as he chose to step down from Formula 1 and concentrate on other categories of motor racing in 2019.

Alonso has further gone on to expand his statement and revealed Red Bull have pursued him on multiple occasions during the course of his F1 career with the first offer from the four-time Constructors’ champions coming as far back as 2007, when he was the reigning champion.

Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, admitted earlier this month Alonso will not be a candidate to replace Daniel Ricciardo, who quit the team to join Renault in 2019, as the Spanish driver causes too much chaos at every team he joins.

Alonso was taken aback by the comments made by the Red Bull chief and confirmed he had received an apology from the Briton via email and hoped for another one when they meet in the paddock during the race weekend.

“From Red Bull, in fact, l had in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and two this year - one in Monaco and one in August,” Alonso told Sky Sports. "The comments of Christian Horner this summer and Mr Marko are completely out of context and surprising about me causing chaos or difficult to work with.”

"One they have never worked with me. And second they have chased me on five or six occasions over the last seven years. And now they say that - that they are loyal to their programme and their junior drivers. It has been weird and unfair to me,” he added. "I wrote to Christian after his comments this summer. He apologized on email and hopefully he will apologize again this weekend."

Horner was again asked about Alonso’s comments after the first free practice session (FP1) at the Belgian Grand Prix on Friday and insisted there was absolutely no offer from Red Bull in the wake of Ricciardo’s departure earlier in August. Pierre Gasly was eventually chosen as the Australian’s replacement.

Even if there was one, he is certain it did not go from the decision makers at the Austrian team and believes it could have been from Franz Tost, the boss of their sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso.

"Maybe Franz [Tost, the team boss of Toro Rosso] has made him an offer but there was no offer from Red Bull Racing this year," Horner said. "He just doesn't fit the profile of our team. It's sad for him to leave Formula 1 but there was certainly no offer from Red Bull Racing on the table."

"There was an enquiry which came from FOM immediately following Daniel's announcement but it was very clear that Fernando didn't fit in our thoughts or our future. There was never any offer so why Fernando has chosen to say that, I'm not quite sure. I'm not sure whom he had the offer from,” he explained.