{
  "id": 14873931,
  "title": "Horner reveals who blocked Alonso and Leclerc moves to Red Bull",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/horner-reveals-who-blocked-alonso-and-leclerc-moves-to-red-bull",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-16T05:01:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/horner-reveals-blocked-alonso-leclerc-050100036.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nAlonso 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.\n\nSimilarly, 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.",
  "summary": "Christian Horner has revealed that he considered both Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc as potential replacements for Sergio Perez at Red Bull, only for neither option to receive the necessary backing. The former team principal has also clarified Max Verstappen's role in the discussions, insisting that the Dutchman was not behind the decision to rule out Leclerc.",
  "key_points": [
    "Horner reveals Alonso and Leclerc considered for Red Bull.",
    "Helmut Marko blocked Alonso-Verstappen partnership.",
    "Leclerc's move to Red Bull dismissed by undisclosed party."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Internal resistance from team management and Verstappen’s own representatives effectively closed the door on high-profile driver pairings that could have fundamentally reshaped the Red Bull lineup.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}