Horner questions former F1 boss' Verstappen-Hamilton Red Bull link

Christian Horner has been left baffled by the suggestion of former Formula 1 boss Eddie Jordan that Lewis Hamilton should partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull.

The outspoken Jordan made clear that for a fresh challenge six-time F1 champion Hamilton "should go to Red Bull and not Ferrari" to take on a driver in Verstappen he feels is "the best young driver of all of Formula 1 at the moment".

Horner readily acknowledges such a battle every weekend is what F1 fans would love to see, rather than the Dutchman hanging on to the coat-tails of the Briton on the odd occasion, but it will not be at Red Bull.

"I wondered what Eddie had been drinking!" quipped Horner.

"Look, from a fan's perspective he [Jordan] is absolutely right, but I've not heard from Lewis recently, so I can only imagine he is staying where he is.

"I think everybody just wants to see Verstappen and Hamilton go head to head, and hopefully we can give Max the tools to do that, certainly in the remaining races of this year, but very much next year and the year after."

Verstappen is unlikely to pose any threat to Hamilton at this weekend's Russian Grand Prix given the form of both Red Bull and Mercedes at a track that does not suit the RB16.

Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas finished an astonishing second clear of Mercedes' nearest challenger in Renault's Daniel Ricciardo after Friday practice, with the six-time F1 champion a quarter of a second adrift of the Finn.

Mercedes has won all six races at the Sochi Autodrom, with Hamilton taking the chequered flag on four occasions, while Red Bull has yet to even claim a podium.

"It’s been a bit of a bogey track for us over the last five years or so," added Horner.

"I think Mercedes have won every single event here, so they are obviously very much the favourites for this race, yet anything can happen.

"We’ve had a frustrating last couple of races [with Verstappen's two DNFs] and we know here is going to be more of a challenge.

"But hopefully we’ll survive the weekend and then there are some tracks coming up that hopefully play a little more to our strengths."

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