Why Hamilton, Verstappen in different teams is better for F1 - Red Bull

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says the spectacle of Formula 1 would not necessarily be improved by seeing Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in the same team.

Mercedes have twice tried to sign Verstappen in the past, first as a junior driver and then in 2017, only for Red Bull to secure him on a long-term contract.

The prospect of Verstappen switching to Mercedes has been raised once again this year, and Hamilton recently suggested he would be able to prove he is the best driver in F1 once and for all if he were paired with Verstappen.

However, Verstappen's recent wins in Austria and Germany have quelled much of the gossip and Horner says seeing his driver and Hamilton go head to head in different machinery would be just as exciting as if they were team-mates.

Asked if there had been an approach from the Silver Arrows, Horner said: "Toto has certainly not spoken to me about it. He speaks to almost every driver on the grid, so I would think if he has had a conversation it's been direct not through the team.

"The situation with Max is clear and as with other drivers there are always trigger points.

"But in terms of having those two in one team, I haven't heard from Lewis either that he wants to join [Red Bull] next year!

"You can see positives and negative in that. I think that ideally we want to see teams going head to head and the drivers are obviously very much part of that team.

"It would be great to see Ferrari with their drivers, Red Bull with our drivers and Mercedes with their drivers all fighting it out, and whoever else can get up there as well.

"It doesn't necessarily mean that two drivers have to be in the same team."

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