--- title: "Red Bull Says It Couldn’t Afford Both Verstappen and Hamilton Anyway" date: "2023-12-06" modified: "2023-12-06" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/red-bull-says-it-couldnt-afford-both-verstappen-and-hamilton-anyway" categories: - "F1" - "News" - "Racing" --- # Red Bull Says It Couldn’t Afford Both Verstappen and Hamilton Anyway ![]() *\Getty \* Imagine the kind of on-track action that having [Lewis Hamilton]() and [Max Verstappen]() race each other in virtually equal machinery would produce. The ultimate [Formula 1]() driver lineup? Probably. As exhilarating and somewhat bizarre as that would be, a couple of issues will prevent this from ever happening, the biggest one being money. A *lot* of money. Speaking to *[Motorsport.com]()*, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko admitted to being aware that team principal Christian Horner had reached out to Hamilton earlier in the year, after Hamilton's father Anthony suggested the two should chat. “Christian informed me and showed me the text message he received, but I told him: ‘Hamilton and Max, that doesn't work,'" Marko told *Motorsport.com* “There was too much action and how should I say, in 2021, tension. And on the other hand, we cannot afford to have the two most expensive drivers in one team." ![]() **Getty Images** Rumors of Red Bull being interested in Hamilton surfaced during the season finale in [Abu Dhabi last month](), though the various reports were met with indifference by both parties. Ultimately, Horner confirmed that he had, in fact, reached out to Hamilton, but he did so at an old mobile number and never actually reached the seven-time world champion. Once Horner told Marko about the contact attempt, the longtime team advisor supposedly shut down the idea, claiming that it just wasn't possible. “It's just never going to happen. So I told Christian: ‘No way,'" said Marko, according to the outlet. Even if those hurdles didn't exist, however, the likelihood of the two champions driving under the same banner is extremely weak. Hamilton claims to be loyal to Mercedes and is convinced that he can help the team get back to championship-winning form. And as far as Verstappen goes, it's unlikely that he would welcome Hamilton into a team that was built specifically for him—essentially opening the door to a possible shake-up. According to [their current contracts](), and unless something truly wild happens, we will continue to see Hamilton and Mercedes try to fight their way to the front, while Verstappen and Red Bull try to maintain their superiority. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()