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FILE– Purple Bull staff principal Christian Horner. REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger
Purple Bull staff chief Christian Horner on Friday admitted he had not been approached by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton about becoming a member of his staff.
He additionally made clear the one contact he acquired had come from his father Anthony Hamilton, who ended his administration of his son’s racing profession in 2010.
Talking to reporters throughout a information convention on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Horner admitted he had had no “critical dialogue” with Hamilton.
This got here after Horner had informed the Every day Mail newspaper that there had been “an inquiry” from Hamilton about the opportunity of driving for Purple Bull subsequent season, earlier than he signed a two-year extension to his contract with Mercedes.
Hamilton on Thursday denied these claims, suggesting Horner was “stirring issues up”.
“I’ve not approached Christian. I haven’t spoken to Christian for years,” he stated.
“I’ve checked with everybody and nobody from my staff has reached out to him. There aren’t any confidential discussions. Christian… he loves that type of stuff.”
On Friday, Horner stated: “It’s exceptional how a lot traction this has acquired so thanks to the Every day Mail for going completely giant on this merchandise.
“I imply, it’s a query of ‘He stated, she stated, who stated, what stated’… It’s solely regular for drivers, drivers’ representatives and drivers’ dad and mom to have totally different conversations in the course of the course of the yr.”
Hamilton has pushed for Mercedes since becoming a member of from McLaren for the 2013 season, profitable six drivers’ world titles with the staff.
“And look, you realize, we haven’t had any critical dialogue with Lewis. There was by no means a seat obtainable,” added Horner.
“I’ve identified Anthony Hamilton for a few years. He’s a great man. He’s a proud racing father and inevitably, when drivers undergo robust spots — and let’s face it, Lewis hasn’t received a Grand Prix for 2 years — it’s inevitable questions might be requested up and down the paddock.
“However there was by no means any engagement and I don’t know who represents who or what, however with the identical surname, you’ll suppose they have been moderately shut…
“It’s tough to say, however apart from pleasantries, there was no particular ‘Can I drive for Purple Bull subsequent yr?’.”
‘Doubt I used to be just one’
Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton (L) and Purple Bull Racing’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen rejoice on the rostrum after the Method One Mexico Grand Prix. Verstappen received the race whereas Hamilton positioned second. (Photograph by CLAUDIO CRUZ / AFP)
He stated he didn’t suppose Mercedes could be stunned to study that anybody from Hamilton’s staff made contact with Purple Bull.
“He’s probably the most profitable driver of all time and hasn’t received a Grand Prix since 2021 so that you haven’t acquired to be a rocket scientist to work that out.
“And I doubt that I used to be the one one which there was an inquiry made to… Now, what the dynamics are inside any given relationship? I don’t know… I’m not aware of that, however inevitably questions are going to be requested.
“There’s not likely way more to say. Rather a lot has been manufactured from one thing pretty innocuous.”
Horner’s closing feedback might have been a response to Hamilton’s abstract on Thursday when the Briton stated: “For those who actually give it some thought, there are lots of people right here who actually wish to drop my identify in conversations as a result of they know it will make waves.
“And in case you are somewhat bit lonely and usually are not getting a lot consideration that’s the good factor to do — simply point out my identify.”
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Hamilton has persistently pledged his loyalty and assist to Mercedes since controversially lacking out on his eighth world title to Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi two years in the past.
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