Horner: No way Red Bull could 'accommodate' Hamilton

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Christian Horner says there's no way Red Bull could accommodate Lewis Hamilton next season amid suggestions the Mercedes driver could be looking for a new home in F1 in the future.

Hamilton's contract with Mercedes expires at the end of this year. But his team's pains, which are also his own, have likely already crushed the Briton's bid for a record eighth world title.

The Brackley squad's hardship has led some to believe that Hamilton could choose to depart Mercedes and switch his allegiance to another team, a prospect that team boss Toto Wolff would accept without holding a grudge against the seven-time world champion.

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"If we cannot demonstrate that we're able to give him a car in the next couple of years, then he needs to look elsewhere," Wolff said last week in Jeddah.

"I don't think he's doing it at that stage, but I will have no grudge if that happens in a year or two."

Should he decide to leave Mercedes, only two teams would likely be of interest to Hamilton: Ferrari and Red Bull. But both outfits are committed to their current drivers through 2024.

"What Lewis has achieved in F1 is second to none," said Horner. "But we're very happy with the drivers that we have.

"They're committed as a pair not only this season but the next season as well. So, I can't see where we would be able to accommodate Lewis."

Mercedes is now hard at work developing its plan of attack to change the concept of its 2023 car to try and turn around its fortunes.

Horner is convinced that Red Bull's arch-rival will eventually right its ship.

"I'm sure they're going to sort their issues out - we're certainly not writing him off yet," said the Red Bull boss.

"We're hearing about big Mercedes upgrades, I'm sure Ferrari aren't happy with their current position as well.

"So, we're fully expecting things to converge quickly."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.