Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that Lewis Hamilton pushed to secure a seat with Red Bull for 2013, even asking the 82-year-old to help make it a reality.
The 2008 champion ultimately signed with Mercedes after Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz chose to retain Mark Webber – however had the Australian opted to retire, Hamilton would now be Sebastian Vettel’s team-mate.
“Sebastian wouldn’t have cared if Lewis had signed for the team,” Ecclestone told the Mail on Sunday.
“Dietrich is a very honest, straightforward guy and told Mark the door was open for him to stay,” he added. “That was good of him.
“Had Mark gone, Dietrich would have signed Lewis.”
It was then Ecclestone who suggested Hamilton look at Mercedes, a thought which at first made the former McLaren driver “roll his eyes”, but he later agreed to a deal.
“Why not talk to Mercedes, Lewis?” Ecclestone recalled saying. “Lewis rolled his eyes … but I told him that he had nothing to lose as he wanted out of McLaren.”
