Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has revealed that talks were held with Fernando Alonso about a potential drive with Red Bull Racing for 2025.
Last month, Alonso extended his allegiance to Aston Martin, the Spaniard inking a new two-year deal that will run until the end of 2026, which suggests that his career in F1 will end with the Silverstone-based outfit.
However, ahead of his contract renewal, Alonso’s future had been a key topic, with Mercedes and Red Bull often cited as alternative options for the 42-year-old, although the F1 veteran himself always remained tight-lipped about his discussions.
Marko has now confirmed that talks with Alonso did indeed happen. But the Austrian explained why signing up the fiery Spaniard might not have been the smoothest path for Red Bull.
“Well, there have been conversations,” Marko told German website Formel1.de.
“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.”
Marko suggested that Alonso and Verstappen’s profiles and personalities would likely not have been conducive to a balanced working relationship.
“I think it would be very difficult for a team,” he added. “Alonso would be the oldest World Champion on the team, Max the youngest, and they are generations apart.
“I don’t think Alonso does sim racing or gets into a simulator on a plane right after a grand prix.
“So they are two opposite personalities, both very good drivers and also personalities.
“Neither of them are very modest. And it would be very, very difficult for a team to take that in a positive direction.”
Marko nevertheless commended Alonso for his continued commitment and high level of performance in F1, adding that the two parties had discussed working together in the early days of Red Bull.
“You can’t achieve everything in life, but it clearly depends on the personality of the driver, and once again I take my hat off to him for the incredible performance he continues to offer despite his age,” he said.
“We were talking to Alonso in the early years of Red Bull Racing.
“I don’t think he thought we were capable of manufacturing cars that could compete to win World Championships. And that didn’t work out.”
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