Formula 1 Rumors

Will Alonso replace Ricciardo at Red Bull? (2nd Update)

Horner says Alonso causes 'chaos' in a team, yeah it's likely he would destroy Horner's 'pet' driver Verstappen
Horner says Alonso causes 'chaos' in a team, yeah it's likely he would destroy Horner's 'pet' driver Verstappen

UPDATE This rumor is downgraded to 'false' today. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has ruled out signing Fernando Alonso as Daniel Ricciardo's replacement on the grounds that the two-time world champion has caused "chaos" wherever he has driven.

Ricciardo shocked Red Bull last week by announcing he would leave the team for Renault at the end of the season. The news leaves a vacancy at the four-time world champions alongside Max Verstappen, and Horner says he is in no rush to confirm Ricciardo's replacement.

However, he was able to rule out Alonso, who is currently making his own mind up about his F1 future at his current team McLaren.

"I've got huge respect for Fernando, he is a great driver, a fantastic driver, but it's very difficult to see [him joining Red Bull] and he's tended to cause a bit of chaos wherever he's gone," Horner told F1's official podcast Beyond the Grid. "I'm not sure it would be the healthiest thing for the team for Fernando to join the team. So I think our preference is to continue to invest in youth than take a driver who is towards the end of his career."

Red Bull has two home grown talents under contract in Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly that represent the obvious fits alongside Verstappen. Sainz is currently on loan to Renault this season, but Red Bull could exercise an option on his services for next year. Gasly is driving for the Toro Rosso junior team this year and has impressed with a series of strong points finishes that could see him promoted to Red Bull.

"Both of those guys are very quick drivers," Horner added. "This just gives us an opportunity to take our breath, because they are under contract anyway until the end of the summer or beyond, and we will just look at the options available to us and make sure we make the right decision for the team.

"I remember when Mark Webber left in 2013, it was going to be a disaster and we considered Kimi Raikkonen and we considered all the drivers, but eventually it came down to a clear cut decision between Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel got the nod.

"The concern we had about him then was his race craft because we hadn't seen him race anybody. He could qualify the car alright, but ironically it turned out from the moment he got in the car he never stopped overtaking people! So it just goes to show that until you give someone the chance in your own environment it is sometimes quite difficult to gauge." ESPN

Would Red Bull take Alonso?
Would Red Bull take Alonso?

08/03/18 If Fernando Alonso is going to stay in F1 he's going to want a seat in a team that has a chance to win – and that would be Mercedes (no openings), Ferrari (Could replace Raikkonen, but Ferrari never runs two #1's) or Red Bull (To Replace Daniel Ricciardo)

Talking points:

  • Red Bull would prefer a replacement for Ricciardo be experienced. Would they move up Gasly and run two young drivers at their top team? Gasly has been good, but not great at Toro Rosso.
  • Alonso does not have many years left, but still has a point to prove and would jump at the chance for a winning drive, however……
  • Alonso badmouthed Honda so bad at McLaren Honda may push back and tell him to go pound sand
  • Red Bull usually hires from within, so Gasly could be their first choice
  • Alonso drives for Honda rival Toyota in WEC
  • Honda might accept a pay cut just to get a shot at a winning car
  • This Madrid based F1 reporter thinks Alonso is going to IndyCar
Could Alonso replace Raikkonen next year? We doubt it.
Could Alonso replace Raikkonen next year? We doubt it.

05/25/18 (GMM) Fernando Alonso could be plotting a potential return to Ferrari for 2019.

While the Spaniard seems happy at McLaren, he has not won a race since leaving Ferrari at the end of 2014.

Now a rumor is swirling in the Monaco paddock that, last time out at Barcelona, Alonso's management supremo Flavio Briatore lined up a meeting with Ferrari.

Alonso's current McLaren contract is believed to have 'out' clauses at the end of each season.

"I think our situation is the same as everyone's," McLaren executive Zak Brown said at Monaco when asked about Alonso's future.

"We're all talking to our drivers, and probably talking to each other's drivers to a certain extent up and down the pitlane," he added.

"We're now back in Europe, and it's usually around the summertime that things start really taking shape as far as our conversations with Fernando. I think he'll let us know what he wants to do pretty soon," said Brown.