Horner reveals who blocked Alonso and Leclerc moves to Red Bull

Christian Horner, the former Red Bull team principal, has revealed that both Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc were considered as potential replacements for Sergio Perez at Red Bull. However, neither option received the necessary backing. In his autobiography Drive, Horner detailed the discussions surrounding the search for a suitable teammate for Max Verstappen.

Alonso was among the drivers under consideration, and the Spaniard himself expressed his desire to race alongside Verstappen the following season. This interest was conveyed during a conversation at the Japanese Grand Prix. However, the possibility of an Alonso-Verstappen partnership was dismissed following an intervention from Helmut Marko, who communicated objections on behalf of Verstappen's management.

Similarly, Leclerc was also identified as a potential addition to Red Bull. Horner valued the Monegasque's attitude towards Ferrari and his determination as a team player. However, like Alonso, the prospect of Leclerc joining Red Bull was ultimately dismissed. According to Horner, the decision was not directly from Leclerc, but from someone who felt it wasn't the right move for the team.