Why Alonso negotiated with Red Bull several times and never signed a contract, according to Marco

Before renewing the contract with Aston Martin for 2025, Alonso He sounded like one of the candidates to move to Red Bull next year if they don’t extend his contract. Czech Perez or if Verstappenin the midst of a power struggle in the team, he decided to leave.

Explaining his extension in April, Alonso said he had spoken to Red Bull and now Helmut Marko, an advisor to the energy drink team, explained why that didn’t happen. When asked in an interview that will be published in full on Saturday on the YouTube channel of our sister site Formel1.de, Marco replied: “Well, there were conversations. But as I mentioned earlier, a harmonious work environment is very important to Max, and I think that would not be the case with Alonso.”

One of the biggest doubts that Fernando Alonso has always expressed about Red Bull is whether it will be possible to pair him with Max Verstappen, that is, to unite two great champions as teammates. When asked by Motorsport.com in Spain, Marco admitted he didn’t think it was entirely feasible. “No, I think it will be very difficult for the team. Alonso will be the oldest world champion in the team, Max will be the youngest, and they are separated by generations,” he said.

“I don’t think Alonso does sim racing or gets on a simulator on a plane right after a Grand Prix. So these are two opposite personalities, both very good racers and also personalities. But when it comes down to it, it’s about seeing who’s faster.” of which are very modest, and it would be very, very difficult for the team to take this in a positive direction.”

Rumors about Alonso and Red Bull do not only concern this year or last year, but at other stages of the Oviedo native’s career there have been talks of such a possibility.

Adrian Newey will now leave Red Bull and Alonso immediately said he would like to work with him at Aston Martin. Going back to the team’s early stint in the top category after taking over at Jaguar, Marco said it was a moment where technical genius and driver could come together, but suggested Alonso didn’t trust him.

“Well, we spoke with Alonso in the early years of working at Red Bull Racing. I don’t think he thought we were capable of producing cars that could compete to win world championships. And it didn’t work.”

At the end of the same interview, Marco dedicated positive words, going on to explain that if Newey and Alonso did not match, it was because the Asturian did not want it. “You can’t achieve everything in life, but it’s clear that it depends on the personality of the driver, and once again I take my hat off to him for the incredible performance he continues to show despite his age,” he concluded.