Horner reveals Alonso Red Bull talks over F1 seat

Christian Horner has revealed that Red Bull held talks with Fernando Alonso over a potential 2024 Red Bull F1 seat.

The second Red Bull seat has been the subject of much speculation this year after Sergio Perez's struggles last season, but the Mexican started this campaign strongly with four podiums from the first five races.

Perez was given a new two-year deal ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, but his form has collapsed since, with just 47 points in the 12 races since Imola, with Red Bull evaluating Liam Lawson to potentially replace Perez. 

Alonso's contract with Aston Martin was set to expire at the end of the current season, with the two-time champion known to be looking at other options, including Red Bull as Horner confirmed the Spanish driver and his manager Flavio Briatore had "tested the market."

"I remember meeting with him, with Adrian [Newey], in 2011 or 2012 in the back of a hire car at Spa airport about coming across from Ferrari and even at the beginning of this year [we spoke]," Horner told media including RacingNews365. 

"At that time, Sergio's contract hadn't been extended, so as Fernando is a seasoned operator, he always wants to know all of his options.

"Between him and his manager, Flavio, they're always testing the market and it just shows how competitive he still is and delivering at 43 years of age.

"He is still in great shape, and it shows that age is just a number. He is still a very capable grand prix driver, and given the tools, I am sure he'd be at the front."

Alonso to Red Bull

Alonso becomes the first F1 driver to reach 400 grand prix entries in Mexico, with Horner also detailing the previous attempts to get the two-time F1 champion to Milton Keynes, but how a Ferrari contract meant it was not possible.

"He is a formidable competitor, and at the end of his first McLaren stint, I remember going to Madrid and pushing for him to get into the car," Horner continued.

"We wanted to do a two-year deal and he was only prepared to sign for one year, and we were convinced that he had a Ferrari contract in his back pocket at that point, so we didn't get a deal.

"Had he come to us in 2009, maybe things would have looked different - and even halfway through 2009, he was convinced if he got into our car, he could still win the championship that year.

"It is incredible the longevity he has had, the competitiveness but the statistics for the talent and ability he has with two world championships don't do him justice. He should have won more than that."