A race-winning driver would turn down the chance to drive for Red Bull next year, journalist Fred Ferret has claimed.
There could be a vacant seat with the world champions as Sergio Perez approaches the end of his contract.
But Ferret suspects that one 29-year-old racer wouldn’t be putting himself forward for the vacancy.
Perez has finished second behind Max Verstappen at the first two rounds of the 2024 championship.
However, he hasn’t managed to qualify on the front row at either race, placing fifth in Bahrain and third in Saudi Arabia.
BBC F1 commentator Harry Benjamin feels that Christian Horner and co. still need to see ‘more’.
The Mexican came into the campaign under pressure after finishing a record 290 points behind Verstappen in last year’s championship.
Fred Ferret raises Carlos Sainz to Red Bull doubts
Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Ferret, a journalist for L’Equipe, suggested that Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz would shy away from a reunion with Verstappen.
Sainz raced alongside the Dutchman in his maiden F1 campaign at Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s sister team, in 2015.
He needs to find a seat on the 2025 grid after Ferrari pushed him aside to make room for Lewis Hamilton.
Ferret says it’s ‘impossible’ to beat Verstappen in a Red Bull, and reckons Sainz is aware of that reality.
When host Tom Clarkson asked whether he’d be ‘on the phone to his old chums’, he said: “Maybe or maybe not, because he knows that if he comes back, he may have to meet once again Max Verstappen.
“You know how it ended in 2015. Okay, they were young guns. Now they’re grownups and they can deal with everything.
“But I’m pretty that sure Carlos is clever enough to know that it’s impossible to beat Max on his team.”
Where will Carlos Sainz go after Ferrari?
Even if a return to the Red Bull family doesn’t materialise, Sainz could still be in the running for some desirable seats.
Sainz is apparently a ‘strong contender’ to join Aston Martin, with both Lance Stroll and compatriot Fernando Alonso out of contract.
Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok thinks Mercedes may view him as a ‘safer’ bet than teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
And there may also be an opening at the Sauber team ahead of their rebrand as Audi in 2026.
Journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm believes they would rather hire Sainz than retain Valtteri Bottas.
The two-time Grand Prix winner is hoping to return to action at this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix after missing the race in Saudi Arabia with appendicitis.
The post ‘I’m pretty sure’: Journalist reckons 29-year-old might turn down Red Bull seat to avoid Max Verstappen clash appeared first on F1 Oversteer.