With Sir Lewis Hamilton currently considering extending his career in Formula 1 beyond 2023, it’s always interesting to look back at how things could’ve turned out so differently had a different decision been made.
The decision in question with Hamilton is what would’ve happened had he joined Red Bull Racing in 2013, and not the Mercedes F1 Team.
It turns out this very nearly happened, with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner having explained in an interview at the start of the year that Hamilton wanted to join the Austrian team between 2010 and 2013.
After winning his first World Championship in 2008, Hamilton failed to be at the sharp end of the title fight until 2014, with the Brit having not finished in the top three of the Drivers’ Championship in any of his remaining years at McLaren.
READ: Lewis Hamilton wants people to think ‘has he got his balls pierced?’
Horner told the Daily Mail back in March that Hamilton and himself had discussed the possibility of the seven-time World Champion replacing Mark Webber, with Hamilton lining-up alongside Sebastian Vettel.
In the end, Horner rejected Hamilton, after not believing the two “alpha drivers” would work together as a team.
However, Horner went on to explain that he made Niki Lauda sign Hamilton at Mercedes, a decision that has certainly comeback to bite the Red Bull boss.
“Lewis and I have had a couple of conversations over the years,” Horner told the Daily Mail.
“From 2010 to 2013, he was very keen to come and drive for Red Bull. We had Sebastian at that time and to have had two alpha drivers wouldn’t have made sense.
“Niki Lauda was at Mercedes and was very keen to take Lewis and I remember encouraging him to take him. We were fighting McLaren and in 2012, they had the fastest car and we felt that Lewis in a McLaren would be more of a threat than in a Mercedes.
“I encouraged Niki to spend the money as Lewis was wavering a little bit. It would be fair to say that backfired on me.”
READ: Max Verstappen used to open FIFA Packs before qualifying
Had Hamilton joined Red Bull, then perhaps he wouldn’t have gone onto become a seven-time World Champion; however, there is always the possibility that he would’ve actually claimed more World Titles than he currently has.
Vettel may have left Red Bull sooner than he did, leaving Hamilton possibly at Red Bull alongside Daniel Ricciardo, and even eventually Max Verstappen.
All hypothetical scenarios, but equally fascinating to consider.