LEWIS HAMILTON MEETS HORNER AMID FERRARI TALK AND TENSE RELATIONS
Could Christian Horner be Lewis Hamilton's next boss at Ferrari? Reports link the ex-Red Bull chief to the role, reviving a complex relationship from their 2005 meeting to the 2021 rivalry.
Amid rumours that Christian Horner, the former Red Bull team principal, may become Lewis Hamilton's next boss at Ferrari, the two have a complex relationship.
Horner and Red Bull have reached an arrangement that allows Horner to return to the Formula One paddock the following year.
Aston Martin, Alpine, and Haas are among the teams that have been linked to the 51-year-old, who was fired by Red Bull in July. Furthermore, there is still conjecture that Horner and Ferrari are related.
According to the Daily Mail, Ferrari chairman John Elkann is still interested in bringing Horner to the club to replace current manager Frederic Vasseur, who is being questioned in the wake of the Prancing Horse's disastrous 2025 season. Horner has previously had talks with the Italian team.
Given their icy relationship, Hamilton and Horner on the same team would make for an interesting dynamic. Twenty years ago, while Hamilton was making his way up the single-seater ranks, the two first met.
At the time, Horner was in charge of Arden, a company that oversaw teams in feeder classes, including GP2 and GP3 (now Formula 2 and Formula 3). The two parted ways after that encounter, which was not a huge success.
Before joining McLaren in Formula One the next year, Hamilton competed in GP2 for his current employer, Vasseur, in 2006. In the meantime, Horner secured the top position at Red Bull, joining Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen as constructors and drivers.
Hamilton was gushing with appreciation when asked about Horner's departure from Red Bull and his achievements in the sport earlier this year, recalling an awkward conversation between the two. "The advancement [at Red Bull] has been amazing," he said.
"I was at Arden or something when I sat with Christian in his office in 2005, hoping to get into GP2. I would not say we clicked right away!
"It was amazing to watch his development and what he accomplished with the team. It takes passion and competence to operate an organisation that large and effectively, and he contributed both to the team. I hope the best for him.
The animosity that had existed between Hamilton's Mercedes and Horner's Red Bull during the intense 2021 drivers' championship match between Hamilton and Verstappen is in sharp contrast to this display of appreciation for one another. Conflicts on the circuit and elsewhere resulted from the rivalry, which was both fascinating and poisonous.
Hamilton would not want to see a change at the top because of his long-standing friendship with Vasseur. Even though the Frenchman recently signed a new contract, the 40-year-old has enough experience to recognise that he is in a perilous position after a difficult rookie season at Ferrari.
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
