Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, the two top drivers of their generation, will never become team-mates, according to the man who managed the German’s rise to the top and has blocked their partnership once before.

Much attention has been focused on a potential title fight between Hamilton and Vettel during the 2016 season,which starts in Melbourne on Sunday, two vastly different characters both with remarkable records in the sport.

But the dream of the two racing in the same team is an impossible one according to Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal. The door to Ferrari for Hamilton will therefore always be closed while Vettel is there.

Horner oversaw Vettel’s four straight drivers’ titles from 2010 to 2013 and knows the German well. He also rejected Hamilton when the world champion was at McLaren, desperate for the Red Bull drive at the height of their dominance in 2011.