Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has stated that his team is not interested in signing Fernando Alonso for the 2023 Formula 1 season.
Alonso returned to F1 in 2021 with Alpine, having previously competed in the sport for almost two decades with various teams such as Renault and Ferrari.
The new-for-2022 technical regulations were a major factor behind his decision to return, with the two-time World Champion keen to add another title to his name.
Rumours in the paddock have linked Alonso to a seat at Aston Martin next year, replacing Sebastian Vettel, whose future in F1 remains unknown.
However another potential avenue that has been mentioned is a move to Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen, with the reigning World Champion signing a multi-year extension with the Milton Keynes-based squad earlier this year.
Sergio Perez is currently in his second year with Red Bull alongside Verstappen, and has enjoyed a strong start to the 2022 season, scoring a duo of podiums in the last two races.
Speaking to Sky F1, Horner denied that Red Bull is interested in bringing Alonso to the team in 2023: “It’s news to me,” he said. “We’re very happy with the drivers that we’ve got.
“Fernando is a great driver, it’s fantastic that he’s still in Formula 1 given [he’s in] the plus forties, it’s something to aspire to. But he doesn’t fit as part of our plans.”
Horner added that he speaks to Flavio Briatore (who has played a major part in Alonso’s career) “as a friend”, insisting that Red Bull is “very focused on our drivers at this moment in time”.
Alonso has spoken previously over links with Red Bull during his career, stating in 2018 that he rejected several offers across a number of years to join the team.
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