Lewis Hamilton has rubbished reports linking him with a sensational move to join Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
The Mercedes star accused Red Bull chief Christian Horner of "stirring things" by leaking news that he held talks with both Red Bull and Ferrari, which he insisted had absolutely no merit. Speaking ahead of Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race of the season, Hamilton told reporters: "I don't really know where that story has come from.
"Oh, I mean I know it's come from Christian but I don't really understand what he's been talking about because no one, as far as I'm aware, from my team has spoken to him. I haven't spoken to him for years… I think he's just stirring things."
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Adding another layer to the story, Hamilton claims Horner "reached out" to him earlier in the year looking to set up a a meeting between the pair, but insists he simply congratulated the Englishman on "another amazing year" and told him he was looking forward to battling it out with his drivers next season.
When asked if he'd fancy taking on Verstappen in an equal car, Hamilton said he would, but insisted he'd rather beat him driving a Mercedes: "I'd be more than happy to race against him in an equal car," he said. "Red Bull has done an amazing job and any driver would love to drive for such a great group of people.
If Hamilton and Verstappen were on the same team next season, who would win the championship? Let us know in the comments section below.
"[But] I think moving from a car that's not so great to a winning car, from my perspective that's not a dream. A dream is always to start where we kind of are and build up to then winning, and that's why I've stayed with Mercedes."
Hamilton signed an extension on his Mercedes contract in August, tying himself down to the team until the end of 2025. This is despite Mercedes lagging well behind Red Bull, and Hamilton lagging well behind Verstappen, for two straight seasons.
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Red Bull's drivers have won all but one Grand Prix in 2023, while Hamilton hasn't been top of the podium since December 2021. He's watched Verstappen claim three successive world titles, and his record of seven, tied with Michael Schumacher's, will no doubt be firmly in the Dutchman's sights.
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