Formula 1: Fernando Alonso says Red Bull Racing offered him six contracts

Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso has revealed that Red Bull Racing have offered him six contracts over the course of his Formula 1 career, including two for next season.

Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso recently revealed that before he announced that the 2018 Formula 1 season would be his final season in the sport, he was offered a contract by Aston Martin Red Bull Racing to drive for the team beginning next season.

Alonso claimed that this was the case despite the fact that Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner previously all but ruled out the team signing him for the 2019 season.

Here is what Horner had to say about the matter a few weeks ago, 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.”"

The 37-year-old Spaniard became one of the drivers who Red Bull Racing were most likely to sign for next season when one of their two current drivers, Daniel Ricciardo, unexpectedly signed a two-year contract to begin driving for Renault Sport next season as the replacement for Carlos Sainz Jr., who was recently confirmed as Alonso’s replacement at McLaren starting next year.

Yet despite the fact that Horner seemed to be opposed to Red Bull Racing signing Alonso, here is what the two-time Formula 1 champion had to say about being offered a contract by the team, 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.”"

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When asked to clarify if he was referring to the Milton Keynes-based team when he referred to “one of the top three teams”, Alonso replied with a simply “yes”.

However, after Red Bull Racing confirmed that Scuderia Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly would be the driver who is set to become a teammate to Max Verstappen as Ricciardo’s replacement and after Alonso made these remarks, the team denied offering Alonso a contract for next season.

Here is what Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko said regarding 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 also claimed that Alonso “doesn’t fit with us”.

Alonso responded not just by making another claim about being offered a contract by Red Bull Racing but by giving the details as to when he was offered his not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, but six contracts, including two this season, by the team.

Here is what Alonso had to say 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.”"

Do you believe Fernando Alonso when he claims that Red Bull Racing have offered him six contracts over the course of his Formula 1 career, including two this season?