Formula 1: Fernando Alonso demands apology from Christian Horner

Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso has demanded an apology from Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner for his recent comments.

Before two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso revealed that he will be retiring from Formula 1 after the 2018 season ends, he was considered one of the possible replacement candidates for Daniel Ricciardo at Aston Martin Red Bull Racing in 2019.

Ricciardo made the shocking decision to sign a two-year contract to drive for Renault Sport beginning in the 2019 season. In fact, he is set to do so as Carlos Sainz Jr.’s replacement. Sainz Jr. is the 23-year-old Spaniard who recently signed a multi-year contract to replace Alonso at McLaren beginning next year.

However, before Alonso announced his retirement and after he was rumored as one of the possible replacement drivers for the 29-year-old Australian at the Milton Keynes-based team next year, Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner seemed to pretty much rule out the possibility of the team signing him.

Here is what Horner had to say a few weeks ago about Red Bull Racing potentially signined the 37-year-old Spaniard as Ricciardo’s replacement, according to Motorsport.com.

"“I’ve got huge respect for Fernando, he’s a great, fantastic driver, but it would be very difficult to see. He’s tended to cause a bit of chaos wherever he’s gone. I’m not sure it would be the healthiest thing for the team for Fernando to join. Our preference would be to continue to invest in youth than take a driver who is obviously close to the end of his career."

Yet after Alonso announced that the 2018 Formula 1 season would be his last as a driver in the sport, he revealed that Red Bull Racing offered him a contract to drive for the team as Ricciardo’s replacement beginning next year.

Here is what Alonso stated about the matter, according to Sky Sports.

"“From one of the top three teams, l already had an offer a couple of times already this year. It was not the case for me to join that adventure. At the moment, F1 is not giving me the challenges l am looking for.”"

When asked if he was referring to Red Bull Racing as opposed to Mercedes or Ferrari, the other two of the sport’s top three years, Alonso responded by saying “yes”.

However, Red Bull Racing denied that they offered the 32-time Grand Prix winner a contract for next season. Here is what team advisor Helmut Marko had to say about the matter, according to the BBC.

"“We were negotiating with him in 2007 or 2008. His demands were very tedious back then. If you look at his history, in McLaren and Ferrari, it was always a one-man show.”"

Marko added that Alonso “doesn’t fit with us”.

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However, Alonso did not go away quietly upon Marko making his comments, especially given what Horner previously stated about the possibility of signing him.

As opposed to simply making the same claim again, Alonso went into more detail about Red Bull Racing offering him multiple contracts — six to be exact — throughout the course of his career, including two for next year. He also demanded that Horner apologize for what he said about him prior to his retirement announcement.

Here is what Alonso had to add about the matter, according to The Telegraph.

"“I had a couple of offers from Red Bull…In fact I had one in 2007, in 2009, 2011, 2013, one in Monaco and one in August. So, I’m happy you asked me this question, because the comments of Christian and Mr Marko this summer are completely out of context ‒ surprise comments about me creating chaos, being a difficult man to work with.“Firstly, they never worked with me and, secondly, they’ve been chasing me for five or six occasions in the last seven years. Now, they say that they are loyal to their programme and to their commitments to their junior drivers. It has been weird, it has been unfair to me. I wrote to Christian after his comments this summer, and he apologised by email. I hope he will apologise again this weekend.”"

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Will Christian Horner issue an apology to Fernando Alonso for saying what he said about him, assuming, of course, that Alonso is telling the truth when he claims that he was offered several contracts to drive for Red Bull Racing, including two for the 2019 Formula 1 season?

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