Horner says Marko ruled out Alonso and Leclerc for Red Bull’s 2025 seat

Christian Horner says he wanted either Fernando Alonso or Charles Leclerc as Max Verstappen’s team-mate at Red Bull for 2025, but that Helmut Marko ruled out both options. Horner says he did not believe Verstappen was responsible for the resistance.

Perez had helped Red Bull secure its first one-two in the drivers’ championship. Horner says Pérez’s form fell away in 2024 and was unrecognisable compared with previous seasons, prompting him to seek a possible replacement.

Alonso, then driving for Aston Martin, told Horner during the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix that he wanted to partner Verstappen the following season, Horner writes. Horner says Marko later made clear that the idea was unwelcome, apparently on behalf of Verstappen’s management team.

Leclerc was Horner’s next option. Horner praised the Ferrari driver’s speed over one lap and determination, while acknowledging his occasional mistakes. He also regarded Leclerc as a team player and thought he could be ideal for Red Bull. Marko told him to forget the idea too, Horner writes. Horner says he knew the instruction did not come from Verstappen, but does not identify who made the underlying decision.

Red Bull turned to Liam Lawson instead. Horner says the young driver had only 11 F1 races behind him and that he felt the team was asking too much of him. After a couple of races, Red Bull sent Lawson back to its sister team; Horner says he should never have been promoted in the first place.