Horner doubts F1's top drivers will move teams in 2021
Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner says he doesn't see any reason why top Formula 1 drivers would want to change teams in 2021.
The contracts of most drivers in the leading teams - including Red Bull's own Max Verstappen - expire at the end of 2020.
Mercedes' world champion Lewis Hamilton has been linked with Ferrari, with his team boss Toto Wolff suggesting that there’s only a 75% chance of Hamilton staying.
If Hamilton goes elsewhere or even retires, Verstappen is regarded as the obvious target for Mercedes, having been on Wolff’s radar since his F3 days.
However, Horner is convinced that most of the key players - including his star driver - will remain where they are.
“I think all the top guys are out of contract for the end of next year,” said Horner. “He [Verstappen] is very happy in this team.
“We love having him in the team, he fits very well here. It's down to us to give him a competitive car next year, but I think ultimately when the music stops I wouldn’t be at all surprised for everybody to end up remaining in the same seats."
Asked why he was so convinced that there would be no changes, Horner said: “I think [Charles] Leclerc's under contract at Ferrari. Lewis obviously is pretty happy in his environment. Max is happy in his environment.
“So if they're sitting in competitive cars next year, why would they swap, or why would they move?”
Share Or Save This Story
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Lewis Hamilton: ‘I towed Charles the whole time’ and ended up 0.5s slower
Why "dangerous" Hamilton-Lawson incident in Azerbaijan GP practice hasn't led to change
Lewis Hamilton and Fred Vasseur recall GP2 title and 'most impressive race ever', 20 years on
Max Verstappen reveals what really went wrong for Red Bull in Baku F1 qualifying
George Russell's "biggest threat" in Azerbaijan GP: Max Verstappen or Kimi Antonelli?
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
Oscar Piastri: I need a tow bar to hook onto Mercedes to fight for Baku win
Carson Hocevar, Ryan Blaney trade niceties a week after Bristol fight
"We are going to FIA": Grasser appeal rejected - no DTM champion at finale?
Guenther Steiner calls out Williams over F1 infrastructure complaints: "Crocodile tears"
How George Russell claimed his career-best pole margin in F1 Azerbaijan GP qualifying
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
What we learned from Thursday practice at the 2026 F1 Azerbaijan GP
A look at McLaren and Audi's Baku F1 updates
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments