Red Bull team boss Horner says it was Hamilton's father who approached him

ABU DHABI: Red Bull team boss Christian Horner named Lewis Hamilton's father Anthony on Friday (Nov 24) as the person who contacted him earlier in the season about a possible switch to the Formula 1 champions.

Horner added that there had been no serious discussions and there was in any case no seat available alongside triple champion Max Verstappen.

Seven-times world champion Hamilton denied on Thursday that anyone in his management team had approached Horner, who caused a stir with comments in the Daily Mail newspaper suggesting the Mercedes driver had talks with others before signing a new deal.

The 38-year-old said Horner in fact messaged him, sending a text to an old phone number that he only received much later, and was stirring things up.

Horner told Sky Sports television on Friday that the contact was made by Anthony Hamilton who had texted with "an enquiring and suggestive question".

"I don’t know what role Anthony plays in Lewis' setup or management, he’s got some form of relationship," added the Briton. "I don’t think he was enquiring about himself to come and drive."

The story has been the talk of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix paddock, perhaps reflecting the lack of other drama with dominant Red Bull securing both titles long ago and winning all but one race this year.

Horner later rubbed in extra salt at a press conference in which he highlighted Mercedes' fall from dominance since a controversial 2021 finale at the same Yas Marina circuit.

"It's entirely normal for drivers, drivers' representatives and drivers' parents to have different conversations during the course of a year," he said.

"I've known Anthony Hamilton for many years, he's a good guy, he's a proud racing father.

"Let's face it, Lewis hasn't won a grand prix