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Horner: "Red Bull unlikely to sign chaotic Alonso"

09:13, 09 Aug 2018

byBobby Vincent

Christian Horner says that Fernando Alonso is unlikely to replace Daniel Ricciardo at his Red Bull team for next season.

Following Daniel Ricciardo's announcement that he would be leaving Red Bull at the end of the season, Red Bull boss Christian Horner has tried to put the Fernando Alonso rumours to bed.

Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly, two of Red Bull's junior drivers, look the most likely candidates right now.

Alonso is at McLaren currently and it's obvious to see the Spaniard's growing frustration with his side, with their continued lack of success.

Horner has stated that a move for Alonso would be an unhealthy one for his Red Bull side.

"I have got nothing but huge respect for Fernando. He's a great driver, a fantastic driver," Horner told Formula One's official website.

"But I think it's very difficult to see... he tends 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 the team."

Red Bull have, in the past, promoted drivers from its own junior programme and Horner confirms that's what the side want to carry on doing.

"Our preference would be to continue to invest in youth than take a driver who's obviously close to the end of his career," Horner added.

"We are fortunate that we've got several drivers under contract that are great talents. So I think we are going to sit back and just look and evaluate what the situation is.

"It's an incredibly attractive car to be driving and I don't think we are going to be short of requests and offers."