F1 fans accuse Lewis Hamilton of 'gaslighting' as Christian Horner comments spark row

F1 Lewis Hamilton

F1 fans are split on Lewis Hamilton and Christian Horner as row breaks out

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Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 23/11/2023

- 15:31

The Mercedes star has insisted he has no interest in joining Red Bull

F1 fans have ripped into Lewis Hamilton after he denied interest in a move to Red Bull.

Christian Horner has set tongues wagging after claiming a member of the 38-year-old's camp approached him over a sensational move.


That's something Hamilton has now denied, with the Stevenage-born racer instead telling Sky Sports: "I don't really know where that story has come from.

"I don't really understand what he's been talking about.

F1 Christian Horner

F1 star Lewis Hamilton has shut down suggestions he wanted to join Christian Horner's Red Bull

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"As far as I'm concerned no-one from my team has spoken to Christian, I haven't spoken to Christian really in years.

"However, he did reach out to me earlier in the year about meeting up.

"That said I congratulated them on an amazing year and said I hope I'll be able to fight against you guys in the near future.

"That was it. I'm not really sure. I think he's just stirring things."

Yet F1 fans have now reacted with several saying Hamilton is 'gaslighting' followers of the sport.

One X user said: "LMAO the nerve of this guy, imagine thinking Horner would actually approach him to partner Verstappen. The gaslighting is real."

A second stated: The nerve to say Horner contacted him when Horner has specifically said RB don’t want two alpha drivers is insane. Insane gaslighting from Lewis seems like he’s trying to spin the narrative."

A third said: "Of all the options he had, he chose the 'I didn't call him, he called me' as if that is somehow more believable."

"He just straight up lying," were the words of a fourth user.

And a fifth said: "Horner would never approach Hamilton as long as Verstappen is there. Never in his life would he have 2 No. 1 drivers. Hamilton is lying here."

However, other F1 fans have defended Hamilton and believe his version of how things played out.

"I don't see Hamilton contacting and asking for a seat at Redbull knowing his teammate would be Verstappen. It's pointless," said a supporter.

A second defended the veteran by saying: "After all that has happened, why would any of them contact each other?"

A third said: "Anyone who takes Horner seriously is a [clown] like Horner."

"Wow that's really not like Horner to lie about something for attention," were the words of a sarcastic fourth fan.

And a fifth said: "Hamilton SAID his allegiance was 100 per cent to Mercedes and swore he never approached other teams."

Hamilton, meanwhile, has also claimed Horner messaged him on an old phone number in order to try and instigate talks.

“I picked up my old phone, which I just found at home, that had my old number on it," he said.

“I switched it on and obviously hundreds of messages came through and I realised there was one from Christian to get together and have a chat at the end of the season…

“I just replied to him on my new phone.

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F1 Lewis Hamilton

F1 star Lewis Hamilton is happy at Mercedes and has shut down talk of a blockbuster move to Red Bull

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"It was after a weekend. It was quite late on that I found the message. It was from earlier on in the year.

"So, it was like months later.”

He added: “There’s a lot of people here that like to drop my name in many conversations because they know it’s going to make waves.

“If you’re a little bit lonely and aren’t getting much attention, it’s a perfect thing to do. Just mention my name.”

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