Red Bull would never consider swapping Max Verstappen for Lewis Hamilton as it sees the former a꧟s the future of Formula 1, according to Christian Horner. 

Sinc🍒e graduating to Red Bull in 2016, Verstappen has already racked up five grand prix victories and has bee๊n tipped to challenge five-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes’ current dominance of the sport following the team’s switch to Honda engines. 

Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with , Horner revealed that Red Bull passed up the opportunity to sign Hamilton back in 2012 before ultimately sealing a move to Mercedes.&nbsꦑp;

Asked if he would trade Verstappen for Hamilton, Hoꦗrner said: “No - Max is the future.&nbs🦄p;

“He is 21 years of age and he is evolving. Both he and Lewis are phenomenal drivers. Lewis is one of the best of all time. Max has ไwon grands prix but is꧟ yet to compete for a championship.

“However in terms of all-round ability, race craft and speed, Max is capable of ♎going shoulder to shoulder with Lewis.”

Horner, who previously c๊laimed Ve🧜rstappen is the driver he believes Hamilton fears the most out of the current F1 grid, reckons it is good for the sport to have such characters. 

“M♏ax was top scorer b꧙ehind Hamilton in the second half of last season, so that shows how well he was driving,” he said. 

“Max was criticised in some quarters when he showed emotion after the race with Ocon. At least the𝄹re was passion. People relate to that kind of emotion.

“That is why he has🤪 such a big following. We don't want vanilla characters. Lewis is a Marmite kind of guy. That is good.

“It goes🐈 to the heart of what For♛mula 1 must look to be post-2020, when the new regulations come in. 

“The drivers must be the stars of the show. They must get out of the cars exhausted. Technology plays toꦬ🐼o big a role at this moment in time.”