Christian Horner has disclosed that he played a pivotal role in Lewis Hamilton's transition to Mercedes, following preliminary discussions with the British driver’s management about a potential move to Red Bull. In his upcoming book, 'Drive', set to release this Thursday, Horner reveals that Hamilton expressed interest in joining Red Bull after leaving McLaren at the start of 2013.

Key insights from Horner's revelations include:

• Red Bull co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz was not enthusiastic about Hamilton replacing Mark Webber to partner with Sebastian Vettel.
• Horner noted, "As a team principal, it's your job to understand what is the driver market. Naturally, when you've got the fastest car, the best drivers want to drive in the best cars."
• Hamilton’s management, led by Simon Fuller, hinted at a groundbreaking deal, but Red Bull opted to keep their existing lineup.

Horner recounted how Niki Lauda, then non-executive chairman at Mercedes, was instrumental in signing Hamilton. He indicated that Mercedes was struggling post-Brawn acquisition and suggested Hamilton to Lauda when it became clear he was frustrated at McLaren.

The turning point reportedly occurred during the Singapore Grand Prix in September 2012, where Hamilton suffered a gearbox failure while leading the race, marking a significant blow for McLaren.

Reflecting on his time at Red Bull, Horner praised Max Verstappen as an extraordinary talent, recalling his debut victory as "fairy-tale stuff". He anticipates exciting future battles between Kimi Antonelli, who is on track to become F1's youngest world champion, and Verstappen.

Horner noted the impressive progress Antonelli has made this season, suggesting that future matchups with Verstappen could be captivating as both drivers continue to develop their skills.