Fernando Alonso launches furious attack on Red Bull and demands public apology from Christian Horner
The two-time world champion, who will retire at the end of the season, insisted Red Bull did approach him about driving for them in 2019 contrary to reports
FERNANDO ALONSO is furious with Red Bull boss Christian Horner and has demanded an apology after his flippant remarks about the Spaniard.
Alonso is angry after Horner appeared to dismiss his interest in trying to sign him as a replacement for Renault-bound Daniel Ricciardo.
Horner claimed that Alonso has "tended to cause a bit of chaos wherever he's gone".
He also added: "Our preference would be to continue to invest in youth [rather] than take a driver who is obviously close to the end of his career."
But Alonso is adamant that Red Bull DID approach him about their vacant seat for 2019, which has now been filled by Toro Rosso's Pierre Gasly.
Alonso blasted: "I had a couple of offers from Red Bull. In fact I had in 2007, in 2009, in 2011, '13, and two this year, one in Monaco, and one in August.
"So I'm happy you asked me this question, because the comments of Christian Horner this summer and Mr [Helmut] Marko are completely out of context, surprise comments about me creating chaos, difficult man to work with.
"One, they never worked with me, and secondly they've been chasing me for five or six occasions in the last seven years, and now they say that, that they are loyal to their programme and their commitments and their junior drivers.
"It has been weird, it has been unfair to me. I wrote to Christian after his comments this summer, he apologised by email, and hopefully he'll apologise again this weekend."
Horner insisted that there was no offer for him since 2007 when he quit McLaren.
He added: "We did offer Fernando Alonso a contract, but that was back in 2007! To my knowledge, no one within Red Bull has offered him one since.
"He's a wonderful driver, he's a great talent, but it just doesn't fit the profile of our team, our investment in youth and the junior programme that's been so successful over the last 10 years."