Helmut Marko breaks down how Fernando Alonso SABOTAGED a potential Red Bull move in his prime

Helmut Marko revealed how Red Bull tried to acquire Fernando Alonso while the latter had no interests in the team back in 2009.

Helmut Marko breaks down how Fernando Alonso SABOTAGED a potential Red Bull move in his prime

Helmut Marko and Fernando Alonso (via IMAGO)

During its inception back in 2005, Red Bull Racing wasn’t taken as a serious project by many in the F1 community, hence they found it hard to sign the top talents. David Coulthard and Mark Webber were the ones who set the setting stone for the team back in the day. After establishing themselves, the team considered acquiring Fernando Alonso just after his world championships in 2005 and 2006, in order to leap into the next level.

Fernando Alonso had come from highly decorated performances with Renault during Red Bull’s creation. The Asturian had teamed up with Lewis Hamilton at McLaren and continued to perform on elite level. As a result, multiple teams had their eyes set on acquiring the two-time world champion, alongside Red Bull. Recently, Helmut Marko recalled the time his team attempted to sign the champion and how the deal never martialized despite massive success awaiting both sides, because of the Spaniard.

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Helmut Marko pointed out that before Red Bull’s rise in performance with Sebastian Vettel in 2010, they initiated talks with Alonso. Approximately around 2008 or 2009, Milton Keynes wanted to acquire the now 42-year-old to lead the team to monumental heights. However, Marko recalled that the Asturian didn’t take the team seriously and the move didn’t happen.

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Before we started winning, I don't know exactly which year, I think it might have been 2008 or so, we had been talking to [Fernando] Alonso, but he didn't take us seriously, I guess, and so that didn't happen.
Helmut Marko said on the Inside Line podcast.
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Helmut Marko claims Red Bull ‘proud’ of the two world champions in the team

Sebastian Vettel dominated the playing field with Red Bull from 2010 to 2014 and scored four consecutive world championships. Max Verstappen in a similar fashion won the championships from 2020 to 2023 and counting. As a result, Helmut Marko claimed that despite the failure in acquiring Alonso, Red Bull was proud of their two dominant world champions.

Max Verstappen, elmut Marko and Christian Horner
Max Verstappen, Helmut Marko and Christian Horner (Via: Imago)
But the rest, as I said, we are proud about our two world champions [Vettel and Verstappen].
Helmut Marko added.

Red Bull’s current streak of domination is seemingly over after the extreme struggles in the 2024 season. Regardless, the Austrian constructor has a great history in the sport and is continuing to build their legacy. Hence, all these performances despite the struggles will only add on to the legacy in the coming seasons.

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