Christian Horner has revealed that Red Bull once considered trying to bring Charles Leclerc to Milton Keynes as a possible replacement for Sergio Perez, although the idea was stopped before any real contact or negotiation with the Ferrari driver took place.
The former Red Bull team principal disclosed the previously unknown background in his recently released book, explaining that he viewed Charles Leclerc as a potentially ideal team-mate for Max Verstappen at a time when Sergio Perez’s form had become a growing concern. The plan, however, never progressed beyond Red Bull’s internal discussions.
Christian Horner considered Charles Leclerc as Sergio Perez replacement
Over the years, Charles Leclerc has frequently been linked with a possible departure from Ferrari. Rumours have connected the Monegasque with teams including Aston Martin and Mercedes, although his desire to continue with the Maranello team has remained clear. The wider speculation surrounding Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari future has nevertheless made him one of the most closely watched figures on the Formula 1 driver market.
According to Christian Horner, there was also a period when Red Bull considered Charles Leclerc. The intention would not have been to replace Max Verstappen, but potentially to place Charles Leclerc alongside the Dutch driver. The pair have long held considerable respect for each other, even though their battles on track have frequently been intense.
Christian Horner explained that Sergio Perez’s form had become almost unrecognisable compared with the level the Mexican had shown in previous seasons, prompting him to investigate possible alternatives.
“Sergio Pérez’s form was unrecognisable compared to the driver he had been in previous seasons. I decided to look for a possible replacement. During the Japanese Grand Prix, Fernando even told me that he would have liked to race alongside Max the following season. Later, Helmut, apparently on behalf of Verstappen’s team, made it clear that they were not happy with that idea.”
Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc both entered Red Bull thinking
Fernando Alonso was therefore another name considered around the same period, but Christian Horner was also examining the possibility of making an approach for Charles Leclerc. In the end, neither scenario developed into an actual move.
For Charles Leclerc, the idea was halted before Red Bull reached the point of making a concrete approach. Christian Horner believed the Ferrari driver possessed the qualities required to strengthen the team alongside Max Verstappen, particularly because of his speed over a single lap and determined character.
“I thought he could be the perfect driver for us. He was fast, strong over a single lap, and had a determined character. Of course, he made the occasional mistake, which Red Bull had capitalised on, but whatever the situation, he never criticised Ferrari.”
Christian Horner also placed particular value on Charles Leclerc’s attitude towards Ferrari. Despite difficult periods with the Scuderia, the former Red Bull boss felt the Monegasque continued to behave as a team player rather than publicly turning against Maranello.
“Charles was a team player, and I felt he could fill the gap if Sergio slipped further back. He also seemed frustrated at Ferrari.”
That assessment is particularly notable given the repeated speculation that has surrounded Charles Leclerc’s long-term career decisions. His history and latest developments with the Scuderia can be followed through the dedicated Charles Leclerc Ferrari news section.
Why the Charles Leclerc Red Bull idea was stopped
The most significant part of Christian Horner’s account concerns why the potential move never advanced. According to the former team principal, Helmut Marko instructed him to abandon the idea of pursuing Charles Leclerc shortly after it had been considered.
“Not long afterwards, Helmut told me to get Charles out of my head. Just like with Fernando, it wasn’t going to happen. I immediately understood that the instruction wasn’t coming from Max. But someone somewhere had decided that it wasn’t the right step for Red Bull. I was disappointed.”
Christian Horner therefore made clear that there was never a genuine negotiation between Red Bull and Charles Leclerc. The possibility remained an internal idea rather than developing into formal talks, despite his belief that the Ferrari driver could have been a strong solution if Sergio Perez’s performances continued to decline.
The revelation adds another intriguing chapter to the Formula 1 driver market surrounding Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque has previously been linked with other leading teams, including Mercedes, and discussions surrounding a possible Mercedes move have also emerged in relation to an earlier stage of his Ferrari career.
Red Bull’s interest, however, appears to have been fundamentally different. Christian Horner saw Charles Leclerc as a potential partner for Max Verstappen rather than a replacement for him, but the plan was stopped internally before the Ferrari driver was ever approached.
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