Reflecting on Missed Opportunities: Fernando Alonso Opens Up About Declining Red Bull Offer

"Alonso Ponders Over Lost Opportunity with Red Bull"

Fernando Alonso contemplates the chance he missed to become a part of the Red Bull team.

Fernando Alonso has looked back on the chance he missed to become part of the Red Bull team in 2009.

A common critique of Alonso during his Formula 1 career is his tendency to make questionable decisions regarding team selections.

Sign up for our Formula 1 Newsletter

Receive the newest updates, special content, interviews, and offers from the racing world directly in your email.

Please refer to our Privacy Policy for further details.

Although some may view such criticism as severe, it is expected that a driver with Alonso's skill level would have secured more than just two championship titles.

In 2009, Alonso was given a chance to become part of the Red Bull team

The Spanish driver declined the proposal, choosing instead to go back to Renault for a two-year stint before moving to Ferrari in 2010.

In 2009, Red Bull emerged as a team capable of winning races and went on to achieve a dominant position in the sport over the following years.

In an interview on the Beyond the Grid podcast before his 400th Formula 1 race, Alonso shared his thoughts on turning down an offer from Red Bull.

Reflecting on it now might seem simple," he remarked. "However, back in 2008, Red Bull's achievements included just one podium finish, which was secured by David Coulthard in Monaco.

"Red Bull, known for its energy drinks, had a fantastic group of team members. However, expecting them to secure seven or eight championships over the next ten years was not a certainty."

Alonso mentioned the surprising decision by Lewis Hamilton to join Mercedes and the negative feedback the British racer faced back then.

He mentioned that when Lewis switched from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013, he faced a significant amount of criticism that first year.

"Why would someone switch from McLaren to Mercedes if Mercedes had only managed to secure one or two podium finishes until that point?"

"He has won the world championship seven times, and now he has achieved the same feat with Ferrari."

"It's uncertain what Lewis might accomplish in the upcoming year. If Ferrari performs strongly and secures a championship, it would be an excellent decision."

"If Mercedes performs strongly and secures a championship victory, it would be considered a poor decision. How can one foresee such an outcome?"

Explore Further

Sign up for our F1 Newsletter

Receive the newest updates, exclusive content, interviews, and special offers from the Formula 1 paddock straight to your email inbox.

For additional details, please refer to our Privacy Policy

Current Updates

Additional Stories

Website Index

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

It is prohibited to copy any portion or the entirety of the text, images, or drawings in any manner.