Horner: 'Hamilton's relationship with Mercedes had become stale'

It looks like Christian Horner and Toto Wolff will never be friends. Once again in 2024, there were plenty of moments when the Red Bull Racing and Mercedes team bosses were at odds with each other, especially after the row between Max Verstappen and George Russell. Speaking to Talksport, Horner once again had some digs at Mercedes, stating that the relationship between the German team and the now departed Hamilton had become "a little stale".

No longer in the so recognisable silver colour, but in the scarlet red. From 2025, Hamilton will be a Ferrari driver. Horner says that he is looking forward to this fight. "Lewis, that's a big move. He's been with the Mercedes family his entire career. So, to step out of that into arguably the biggest brand in Formula One, Ferrari. It's a great story for Formula One, and it could be just the revitalisation of Lewis [that] he's been looking for," he explained.

Horner also stated that Hamilton hasn't looked top-notch for the last three seasons. Why is this? "Perhaps that relationship [with Mercedes] became a little stale. Lewis is the most successful driver in the history of the sport, and driving a Ferrari next year [he] could well be a serious competitor. So we don't underestimate anybody or any of our competitors."

It could just be that Red Bull - and thus Horner - are no longer going to be in full battle with Wolff and Mercedes but with Fred Vasseur's Ferrari. About the Frenchman, Horner says he is "more of a racer" than Wolff. "He is more of a no-nonsense type. He is maybe a bit less hot-tempered [than Wolff]."

Horner believes Vasseur could have a totally new experience next season with having Hamilton on the Ferrari squad. "Inevitably, that pressure will grow with the expectation of having Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in his cars next year," the Red Bull boss concluded.

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