Revealed: Hamilton repulse Horner as he says Red bull boss taxed him first.

Lewis Hamilton has insisted that Horner was the one who texted him first, rejecting Christian Horner’s assertion that the British man had asked about the availability of a seat at the Red Bull earlier this year.

Before the F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi, Horner to the daily mail that Hamilton’s management had contacted Red Bull “earlier in the year” but it didn’t seem like any follow-up was done.

“They have reached out a few times”,Horner said.

“Most recently, earlier this year, there was an enquiry about wether the would be any interest.”

The seven-time world Champion would stay with the Brackley team until the end of 2025 after Mercedes and Hamilton finally agreed on a two-year contract extension last summer in August.

On Thursday at Yas Marina, Hamilton rejected Horner’s claim and offered a very different version of events.

“No, I didn’t approach them… Christian messaged me,” said the Mercedes driver.

“I’ve checked with everyone in my team, and no one has spoken to them. But they have tried to reach out to us.”
Hamilton then explained that Horner had sent him a message at an old phone number, with the text retrieved by the Briton only just recently.

“I picked up my old phone, which I just found at home, that had my old number on it,” he explained.

“I switched it on and obviously hundreds of messages came through and I realised there was one from Christian to get together and have a chat at the end of the season…

“I just replied to him on my new phone. It was after a weekend. It was quite late on that I found the message. It was from earlier on in the year. So, it was like months later.”

Hamilton said Horner gave no indication on why thepair should meet. But he replied to congratulate Red Bull on its championship winning season, and conveyed his hope that Mercedes would be able to fight its rival in 2024.

Hamilton remarked “If you’re a little lonely and aren’t getting much attention , it’s perfect thing to do. Just mention my name.

“A lot of people here enjoy bringing up my name frequently because “they know it’s going to make waves.

Last but not least, Hamilton responded to Horner’s assertion that a Verstapeen-Hamilton lineup “wouldn’t be right” in terms of the team dynamic by saying that he would have no problems racing alongside the Dutchman “I did tell Toto, especially when the story broke,” he said,”Also, I wanted my team to know because people think those things and it’s never a positive “.