Abu Dhabi F1: Lewis Hamilton denies speaking to Red Bull and Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton has accused Christian Horner of "stirring" after the Red Bull boss claimed representatives of the seven times world champion approached him about switching teams before he penned his new deal with Mercedes.

Horner said that Hamilton's team had reached out to both Red Bull and Ferrari at a time when his Mercedes future was in doubt.

Hamilton, whose new contract until 2025 was confirmed in August, told Sky Sports at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Thursday that he did not know what Horner was talking about.

"I know it's come from Christian. 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," he said.

"He did reach out to me earlier in the year about meeting up but that's it. I just congratulated him on an amazing year and said hopefully soon I'll be able to fight against you guys in the near future. That was it.

"So I'm not really sure, I think he's just stirring things. There aren't any confidential discussions. You know Christian. He loves that kind of stuff."

Horner had indeed caused controversy when he claimed Hamilton had been sounding out his team's biggest rivals.

“We have had several conversations over the years about Lewis joining,” Horner told the Daily Mail.

“They have reached out a few times. Most recently, earlier in the year, there was an inquiry about whether there would be any interest.

“He met John Elkann [Ferrari CEO], too. I think there were serious talks. It was around Monaco [late May].

“There were definitely conversations, perhaps with [Ferrari team boss Frederic] Vasseur, too. But certainly with Elkann.

“But I can't see Max and Lewis working out together. The dynamic wouldn't be right. We are 100 per cent