I had a few moments’ – Alonso opens up on past Red Bull talks and how he could have joined the squad…..

Fernando Alonso’s career has been a tapestry of incredible highs and some frustrating lows, marked by moments of brilliance, near-misses, and a constant drive for success. Yet, amidst all the twists and turns in his storied Formula 1 journey, one of the most intriguing “what-ifs” revolves around his potential move to Red Bull Racing during his career. In a candid interview, Alonso recently reflected on how close he came to joining the championship-winning team and how he feels about the missed opportunity, especially given Red Bull’s dominance in recent years.

The Backstory: Alonso’s Early Years and Red Bull’s Rise

When Alonso first made his mark in Formula 1, his natural talent and fierce competitive nature quickly caught the attention of many teams. After winning the 2005 and 2006 World Championships with Renault, he was heralded as one of the most gifted drivers on the grid. However, despite his immense success, his journey was marked by instability in terms of team choices.

Red Bull Racing, on the other hand, was just beginning to find its feet in the sport in the early 2000s. While it had some success, including podium finishes, it was still a team largely trying to assert itself against the might of Ferrari, McLaren, and Renault. The landscape of F1 began to shift in the mid-to-late 2000s, and by 2010, Red Bull had evolved into the dominant force, with a new era dawning for the team as they secured four consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ titles between 2010 and 2013.

During this period, Alonso’s contract with Ferrari had become a point of speculation. Despite being widely regarded as one of the best drivers of his era, Alonso’s relationship with Ferrari, particularly after their controversial 2010 season, had begun to show cracks. This created the perfect storm for potential moves, with several teams interested in the Spanish driver’s services.

The Red Bull Talks: What Could Have Been?

In a recent interview, Alonso discussed the “moments” where he could have made the switch to Red Bull Racing, acknowledging that there had been serious discussions at various points in his career about joining forces with the Milton Keynes-based team. Alonso was famously involved in negotiations with Red Bull during the period when he was weighing his future options in 2009 and again in 2014 when he was contemplating his exit from Ferrari.

Alonso revealed that the talks were genuine, and at one point, he and Red Bull had seriously considered collaborating. However, there were a few key factors that ultimately prevented the move from happening.

“Red Bull was an interesting option at different points of my career, especially in the period when they were becoming dominant,” Alonso explained. “There were a few moments where I thought it might be the right time to make the move. The team was winning, and they had everything in place to be champions for years to come.”

Alonso went on to explain that while Red Bull had the car and the infrastructure to challenge for titles, there were personal and professional reasons why the move didn’t materialize. One of the major sticking points was the nature of the team dynamic. Red Bull’s then-drivers, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, were both at the top of their game, and it was clear that a team of that caliber might not have been the ideal environment for a driver with Alonso’s ambitions.

“I am a very competitive person,” he said, “and I knew that joining a team with two established drivers, especially at a time when they were winning everything, would have meant a very intense rivalry. That’s not always easy to manage, and I was at a point in my career where I didn’t want unnecessary tension in the team.”

Alonso also hinted at the idea of being part of a team that could potentially become his own, where he could have a more significant influence on car development and team strategy. At the time, Ferrari, despite its shortcomings, offered Alonso a platform where he could take on that role of being the undisputed leader, which might have been harder to achieve in a competitive team like Red Bull.

What Changed: The Move to Ferrari and Its Challenges

Instead of joining Red Bull, Alonso’s future was tied to Ferrari in 2010, where he believed he could bring the team back to the top after several years without a championship. Ferrari was deeply invested in bringing the title back to Maranello, and Alonso’s experience was seen as a perfect match for their ambitions.

However, Alonso’s time at Ferrari wasn’t without its challenges. While he came close to winning the title in 2010 and 2012, the car was often not the best on the grid, and internal politics, particularly with team orders and strategic calls, made the journey all the more difficult.