F1 | Red Bull, Horner: “In 2008 we were very close to signing Alonso”

Alonso-Red Bull, the story of a failed marriage. In an interview given to Motor Sport Magazine, Christian horner, team principal of the Anglo-Austrian team, revealed that he had had contact with the Spaniard at the end of the 2008 season: “We are very close to signing Alonso. Helmut (Marko) and I met with his management in late 2008 and offered a two-year contract, for the '09 and '10 seasons" – Horner said. "He would only sign for one year but we told him that Red Bull would offer him a two-year deal, otherwise nothing. We clearly thought he had a contract with Ferrari for 2009.". Alonso, however, still remained in 2009 Renault, and then moved to Maranello the following season: in its years in red, Red Bull collected four drivers' titles with Sebastian Vettel and as many builders.

Horner then explained that he had had further talks with Alonso in mid-2009 and in 2011 or 2012, but “the most serious discussion was the first, then he lost his chance" – commented the English manager.

Federico Martino