Carlos Sainz is one of the biggest players in this year’s F1 driver market. Nearly four months after learning that he’d lose his Ferrari drive to Lewis Hamilton, he still hasn’t made a decision on his future.
Sainz holds a longstanding offer from Audi, who will take control of the Sauber team in 2026. However, he’s yet to accept it because he’s holding out for a call from Red Bull.
The Spaniard started his career at junior team Toro Rosso in 2015, but rather than graduating alongside Max Verstappen, he left for Renault instead. He subsequently raced for McLaren before landing at Ferrari.
But the world champions may have a vacancy for next year, and with it a potential shot at the title. Sergio Perez is out of contract at the end of the season.
Perez put himself in a strong position to retain his drive with three runner-up finishes in the first four races. However, he’s struggled at the last two, finishing in a season-worst eighth place last time out at Imola.
Christian Horner is apparently keen to replace the Mexican with Sainz for next year. But executive director Helmut Marko is currently preventing him from pulling the trigger.
Why Red Bull ‘don’t really want’ Carlos Sainz
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Chequered Flag podcast, reporter Andrew Benson shared an update on Sainz’s Red Bull prospects. As it stands, they aren’t particularly eager to sign him.
This isn’t necessarily a reflection on his performances. The 29-year-old has broadly impressed this year, winning the Australian Grand Prix and averaging 15.3 points per race.
But Red Bull will be wary of the possibility of ‘tension’ within their ranks. Marko has previously admitted that Sainz was hurt by perceived second-class treatment during his partnership with Verstappen.
This could be good news for Perez. While he hasn’t been able to challenge Verstappen, there has at least been harmony in the garage across the past four seasons.
“Most of the big names have already signed contracts, most of the second rank of drivers have already signed contracts,” Benson said. “Carlos Sainz is available because Lewis Hamilton is going to Ferrari next year.
“The word is that Red Bull don’t really want him. There was tension between Verstappen and Sainz when they were teammates at Toro Rosso back in 2015 when they were both rookies.”
Williams may have big incentive to offer Carlos Sainz
Mercedes isn’t looking like a realistic option for Sainz at the moment either. That’s because the timelines don’t match up.
Toto Wolff wants to wait as long as he can before he makes a final decision on Hamilton’s replacement. But Sainz needs clarity on his future because he’s currently without a seat for next year.
As such, it’s looking like he’s going to have to drop into F1’s midfield. And Williams are starting to emerge as a real contender.
The idea of a move to the Grove outfit, who haven’t scored a point this season, previously looked like a ‘joke’. But they’ll offer Sainz the chance to race with a Mercedes power unit in 2026 amid rumours that the German manufacturer are leading the way.
In 2014, Williams took full advantage of the engine’s supremacy to finish third in the constructors’ standings, scoring nine podiums along the way. Perhaps Sainz is banking on a repeat with the latest set of regulation changes.
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