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Alonso rejected 2019 Red Bull move

Published on 23 Aug 2018 16:30
15
By: Fergal Walsh

Fernando Alonso has revealed that he rejected an offer from Red Bull to join them for the 2019 season. The Spaniard will leave Formula 1 at the end of the year, stating that the current predictably of the sport prompted his decision to leave.

A seat opened up at Red Bull at the beginning of August, when Daniel Ricciardo announced a shock move to Renault. Ricciardo was set to remain with Red Bull for another two years before he made up his mind and penned a deal with the French outfit.

Talking to Formula 1's official podcast a number of weeks ago, Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner said that it wouldn't be the healthiest thing for the team if Alonso joined them.

"I have huge respect for Fernando, he is a great driver, a fantastic driver, but it's very difficult...he's tended to cause a bit of chaos wherever he's gone," Horner told F1's official podcast. I'm not sure it would be the healthiest thing for the team for Fernando to join. Our preference is to continue to invest in youth than take a driver who is obviously close to the end of his career."

However, Sky Sports F1 state that Alonso revealed to them in an interview that he had an offer to be partnered with Max Verstappen next season. Red Bull will switch to Honda power next year, ending its long-standing partnership with Renault.

Alonso drove for McLaren during its 2015 to 2017 Honda period but never claimed a result higher than fifth. He will walk away from the sport at the end of the year and is expected to take up a seat in IndyCar for 2019.

Fergal Walsh

xoya

Posts: 583

Damn. Since Alonso rejected them (allegedly) they will surely win the title next year.

3
Aug 23 2018 - 22:19

F1 News Max Verstappen Fernando Alonso Daniel Ricciardo McLaren Renault Honda

Replies (15)

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
LOL some seriously wounded pride at RB... losing two of their best drivers brought up through their system, and then being turned down by a driver many thought was desperate for a better drive...
- + 0
- Aug 23 2018 - 17:35
- michielhimself
  
  Posts: 132
  If there's anything Alonso's history in F1 should have taught us, it's don't believe everything Alonso says.
  + 2
  
  Aug 23 2018 - 17:50
- NEXT SPARE VAMP
  
  Posts: 1,874
  Ofcouse Alonso is lying once again.
  + 0
  
  Aug 23 2018 - 18:17
- michielhimself
  
  Posts: 132
  In hindsight and after Sainz's quite genuine clarification in yesterday's press conference, the La Marca rumour that Verstappen had vetoed Sainz's promotion to the Red Bull seat, may have come from Alonso rather than from Sainz sr.
  + 0
  
  Aug 24 2018 - 09:50
NEXT SPARE VAMP

Posts: 1,874
He's obviously afraid of Verstappen!
- + 0
- Aug 23 2018 - 17:36
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Either he or RB lies. Or both at once. Knowing them both, the latter is fully possible... And dont ask me how, because I dont know. Im a skinless man, not a 2nd rate Mysterio!
- + 1
- Aug 23 2018 - 18:45
- Hepp
  
  Posts: 200
  My guess is the offer came from a drunk Dr. Helmuttonhead when Alonso made it clear he wasn't happy with the Ferrari management mid season.
  + 1
  
  Aug 23 2018 - 20:52
blade

Posts: 341
Wow - let's see if Brundle and or Coulthard and co. can develop this one at race weekend - fascinating - isn't Alonso's manager Briatore - another chap not exactly renown for total integrity - I wonder whether it was an exploratory chat that's was massaged into an offer by Briatore and that's what All has commented on......... total F1.
- + 1
- Aug 23 2018 - 18:54
denis1304

Posts: 284
it's possible RB offered him some low ball offer thinking he is desperate for a drive
- + 0
- Aug 23 2018 - 20:22
Epol611

Posts: 408
Red Bull have denied a claim by Fernando Alonso that he was twice offered a drive with them next season before he decided to retire from Formula 1 at the end of this year.
The 37-year-old said Red Bull offered him the seat being vacated by Daniel Ricciardo, who is joining Renault.
"F1 is not giving me the challenges I'm looking for. It was not the case for me to join this adventure," said Alonso.
But the Austrian team said Alonso was never made an offer.
Earlier this week, Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko said Alonso "doesn't fit with us".
- + 0
- Aug 23 2018 - 20:55
xoya

Posts: 583
Damn. Since Alonso rejected them (allegedly) they will surely win the title next year.
- + 3
- Aug 23 2018 - 22:19
- f1ski
  
  Posts: 726
  thinking the same thing
  + 0
  
  Aug 24 2018 - 05:08
boudy

Posts: 1,168
Gotta hand him that he's got an God given talent to create problems everywhere. It's definitely more of an Alonso figment because if he did get that seat offered he would have been taken it by his own admission. Redbull or any other team would want a turncoat in its team.
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- Aug 24 2018 - 08:03
Patentprutser

Posts: 390
RB never offered him a seat, Sky Sports F1 is telling b*llshit.
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- Aug 24 2018 - 09:31
2GRX7

Posts: 108
Yeah, not buying the RB yappin'! I just look at the historical commenting from Horner and Helmut (Horner and the Vettel/Webber incident at Malaysian GP).

It sounds like the same type of slippery monologues of the past-the only difference: they're using Alonso's tarnished image/honor and capitalizing on the belief that most listeners aren't going to give Alonso the benefit of the doubt!

To me, that ranks R.B. under a pile of, well, ya'll know!

Not an Alonso fan after what he did to McLaren, but I'm a fair one.
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- Aug 24 2018 - 15:52