Christian Horner has explosively claimed that Lewis Hamilton held "serious talks" with both Red Bull and Ferrari before opting to extend his stay at Mercedes.

The F1 icon ended months of speculation in August by agreeing a new two-year deal worth around £100million, which will take him past his 41st birthday. The British driver is now almost certain to end his career with the team where he has secured six of his seven world titles.

There had been talk of a shock move to Ferrari, links that Hamilton duly dismissed. But in an interview with Mail Sport , Horner has now sensationally argued that Hamilton's representatives contacted not only the Scuderia but his own Red Bull team, and not for the first time.

"We have had several conversations over the years about Lewis joining," he said. "They have reached out a few times. Most recently, earlier in the year, there was an inquiry about whether there would be any interest."

But the team principle alleged that it was Ferrari with who Hamilton held the more in-depth conversations. "He met John Elkann (Ferrari chairman), too," he added. "I think there were serious talks. It was around Monaco. There were definitely conversations, perhaps with (Fred) Vasseur, too. But certainly with Elkann."

The notion of Hamilton working with Max Verstappen, the man who so denied him an unprecedented eighth title in Abu Dhabi in 2021 in such dubious circumstances, would be beyond intriguing for fans. But Horner revealed it's that very notion which deterred Red Bull from pursuing a deal.

Christian Horner and Lewis Hamilton might have been on the same side at Red Bull had things gone differently
Christian Horner and Lewis Hamilton might have been on the same side at Red Bull had things gone differently

HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Lewis Hamilton win an eighth world title at Mercedes? Comment below.

And in an apparent nod of faith to No.2 driver Sergio Perez, as as well as three-time world champion Verstappen, he said: "I can't see Max and Lewis working out together. The dynamic wouldn't be right. We are 100 per cent happy with what we have."

Hamilton is currently on the longest winless run of his F1 career, having not taken the chequered flag since the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix in December 2021. And he's now guaranteed to finish in third place this time around irrespective of what happens at the Yas Marina this weekend.

But he's a mammoth 317 points off rival Verstappen. Red Bull have also long sown up the constructors' championship, with the Silver Arrows lying second and just four points clear of Ferrari.