Lewis Hamilton and Christian Horner may need clear-the-air talks if the former adversaries end up working together at Ferrari. Fresh speculation about Horner joining Ferrari has emerged amid a hugely disappointing season for the Prancing Horse, who had been hoping to mount a championship challenge after finishing a close second to McLaren in last year’s constructors’ championship.
Ahead of this weekend's United States Grand Prix, they are clinging onto third spot, a massive 352 points behind McLaren, who have already wrapped up the teams' title. The 51-year-old, who was ousted by Red Bull in July, has been linked with various teams, including Aston Martin, Alpine and Haas. Horner has previously held talks with the Italian team and according to the Daily Mail, Ferrari chairman John Elkann remains keen on signing him to replace current boss Frederic Vasseur, who is under pressure despite recently signing a new contract.
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'Hollow victory' claim
Hamilton and Horner in the same team would be a fascinating dynamic, given their previously frosty relationship. The pair were on opposite sides as Hamilton, then of Mercedes, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fought for the drivers’ title in 2021.
It was both a thrilling and toxic rivalry that led to clashes on and off the track. During that year’s British Grand Prix, Hamilton and Verstappen collided at high speed, with the Dutchman being sent hurtling into the barriers with a 51G impact.
Hamilton was deemed at fault and was hit with a 10-second penalty, but still went on to win the race. A furious Horner didn’t believe the penalty went far enough and was openly critical of Hamilton, calling it a “hollow victory.”
He said: “He shouldn’t be making manoeuvres like that. It is unacceptable. Thank goodness the biggest result for us today is that he is uninjured. I hope Lewis is very happy with himself.”
Horner added: “Lewis has more than enough experience to know that is unacceptable. I’m very disappointed that a driver of his calibre should make such a move. It’s dangerous. For me, it’s a hollow victory.”
But Hamilton insisted it was a racing incident as he fired back at Horner, saying: “I don’t really have anything to say to Christian. The win doesn’t feel hollow. I don’t think I am in a position to have to apologise for anything.”
Hamilton's 'selective memory'
In another barb, Horner accused Hamilton of having a “selective memory” after the seven-time world champion highlighted Red Bull’s dominance in 2023, when they won all but one race.
Horner made reference to Hamilton’s own domination while at Mercedes, where he won six drivers’ title in seven years. Speaking on the Eff Won with DRS podcast, he said: “I feel like he’s got selective memory.
“So you know, some of the winning that they did in that period was just obscene. We’ve had a good run for a couple of years, but the one guy that shouldn’t be saying that, I would think, is Lewis.”
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Horner rules out Hamilton move
In the same year, Horner insisted there was no prospect of Hamilton racing for Red Bull after claiming Hamilton’s father, Anthony, had approached him about a seat. In turn, Lewis insisted: “No one from my team has reached out to him.”
Horner then attempted to set the record straight, saying: “It’s a question of he said, she said, who said, what said. It’s entirely normal for drivers, drivers’ representatives, drivers’ parents to have different conversations during the course of a year.
“We haven’t had any serious discussion with Lewis, there was never a seat available. I’ve known Anthony Hamilton for many years, he’s a good guy, a proud racing father.”
Bringing up Hamilton’s lack of success since 2021, Horner pointedly added: “Inevitably, when drivers go through tough spots… Let’s face it, Lewis hasn’t won a Grand Prix for two years. Questions will be asked up and down the paddock. There was never any engagement.”