EXCLUSIVE: Lewis Hamilton held talks with Red Bull and Ferrari about joining before he inked new £50m-a-year deal with Mercedes... and he was even open to joining forces with rival Max Verstappen!

A representative of Lewis Hamilton contacted Red Bull about him partnering Max Verstappen at the world championship-winning team before he signed a £100million deal to remain at Mercedes, and he also held talks with Ferrari.

The explosive claims come in an exclusive interview with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, blowing a hole in Hamilton's insistence that Mercedes was the only place where he wanted to see out his career.

The revelations reinforce Mail Sport's story in May that Hamilton and Ferrari had dialogue about doing a deal - explicitly denied by the driver and the Scuderia's team principal Fred Vasseur at the time, but proven correct now.

Horner said: 'We have had several conversations over the years about Lewis joining. 

'They have reached out a few times. Most recently, earlier in the year, there was an inquiry about whether there would be any interest.

'He met John Elkann (Ferrari chairman), too. I think there were serious talks. 

'It was around Monaco (in May). There were definitely conversations, perhaps with Vasseur, too. But certainly with Elkann.

'But 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.'

After protracted negotiations, 38-year-old Hamilton signed up until the end of 2025. 

The deal, which takes the seven-time champion close to his 41st birthday, was announced at the end of August.