Horner on Hamilton prospect: We'd have to sell the factory!

With Lewis Hamilton's Formula 1 contract up for renewal at the end of the season, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner does not envisage a future where he pairs Max Verstappen at the team.

Competitive driver pairings in F1 have often gone one of two ways, with a team either benefitting in the points table or it ending badly as the competition becomes too heated.

Hamilton and Verstappen have been staunch rivals since 2021, but could the seven-time World Champion make the switch to Red Bull as Sergio Perez fails to deliver for the team?

Horner was not convinced it would be a move that would benefit Red Bull when discussing with media, including RacingNews365.com: "It's nothing that we've ever considered in the recent past.

"Obviously, to pay for those two drivers in itself, we would probably have to sell the factory!"

Red Bull considered Hamilton in the past

Hamilton is looking likely to extend his contract with Mercedes, despite rumours that he could switch to Ferrari as he grows weary of their chances of producing a title-winning car.

Horner claims Red Bull did speak to Hamilton about the prospect of joining the team, but admitted that it has not been in the recent past.

"Lewis is obviously a great driver. Hopefully, he'll be around for many years to come," he said.

"There's been a couple of occasions in history that we've had a couple of conversations about the possibility of joining Red Bull, but that's not been anytime recently."