In the past, there have been discussions between Fernando Alonso and Red Bull.
Despite talks with Red Bull, Fernando Alonso was never signed because Helmut Marko does not believe there could’ve been harmony with him at the team.
Fernando Alonso has spoken with Red Bull several times in the past, the most recent conversation said to have taken place earlier this year before he committed his future to Aston Martin.
‘There have been conversations but…’
However, despite the Spaniard’s disclosure that there were discussions involving Adrian Newey, the partnership between Alonso and Verstappen never came to fruition.
And it never will, says Marko.
Marko told Formel1.de’s YouTube channel: “Well, there have been conversations. But as I mentioned before, a harmonious work environment is very important to Max and I think that probably would not have been the case with Alonso.”
Due to their contrasting personalities, he believes that the double World Champion and Red Bull’s triple World Champion will struggle to establish a successful working relationship.
The motorsport advisor expressed their opinion, stating that it would be quite challenging for a team. They highlighted the significant age difference between Alonso, who would become the oldest World Champion on the team, and Max, who would be the youngest, indicating that they belong to different generations.
Alonso and the act of sim racing or engaging in a post-Grand Prix simulator session seem to be incompatible. Their personalities diverge greatly, yet they both excel as skilled drivers and possess unique personas.
However, when it comes to determining their speed, both of them lack modesty. Consequently, it would be extremely challenging for a team to channel this attitude in a constructive manner.
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Did Fernando Alonso doubt Red Bull’s ability to win?
Marko asserts that Alonso, during the time before Verstappen’s arrival, failed to recognize Red Bull’s potential to secure championship victories.
The team currently holds seven Drivers’ Championship titles and six Constructors’ Championships, with the potential for more to be won in the ongoing season.
“He believed that during the early years of Red Bull Racing, we were incapable of producing cars that could rival for World Championships. Unfortunately, his belief did not prove to be correct.”
In April, Alonso made a firm commitment to Aston Martin. During this time, he was questioned about the rumored discussions he had with Red Bull. It was speculated that he could potentially replace Sergio Perez or step in for Verstappen in the event of the latter joining Mercedes.
He declined to disclose the names of the teams he had been in communication with.
He mentioned, “I did have conversations with other individuals, including PlanetF1.com. When engaging in negotiations, it is necessary to consider the market and find a balance.”
“It is important to consider the perspectives of others. It is a standard procedure, and I believe it is reasonable to listen to all proposals and observe market trends. Personally, I believed choosing Aston was the most logical decision.”
He further stated, “I believe it is currently unimportant for me to disclose the specific teams I conversed with.”
“Yeah, it’s a typical conversation that happens in the industry. When teams are looking for a driver, they reach out to everyone to gather information about their position and contract status. Even if they aren’t particularly interested, they still want to be aware of everything. Personally, I have a similar approach, but without any specific targets in mind. Initially, my main priority was Aston.”
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