With his contract expiring at the end of 2024, rumours are starting to circulate as to where Carlos Sainz might find himself in 2025, as he reportedly has several options.
Sainz’s current priority is to remain with Ferrari, although the Italians are believed to be against his demand of a two-year extension.
It’s already well documented that the 29-year-old supposedly has a pre-contract with Audi, who’ll enter Formula 1 in 2026 when they’ll acquire a 75 per cent stake in Sauber.
Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport are under the impression that should Ferrari and Sainz part ways, then Red Bull could be a potential new home for the Spanish driver.
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Red Bull are currently set to have a seat available in 2025, as Sergio Perez’s contract expires at the end of 2024 and isn’t expected to be extended.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit do already know Sainz very well, as he raced for sister side Toro Rosso – currently known as AlphaTauri – from 2015 until almost the end of 2017.
Sainz completed his move to Renault with four races remaining in 2017 and parted ways with the Red Bull family.
When he joined Toro Rosso, Sainz partnered Max Verstappen, with the duo having made their debuts together.
It was Verstappen who was ultimately chosen over Sainz to replace Daniil Kvyat at Red Bull at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, as it was the Dutchman who was performing better.
Sainz has obviously moved on from Toro Rosso and found some great form at McLaren and for the past three seasons, Ferrari, to the point that his race management has received significant praise.
In fact, he’s believed to be a serious option to replace Perez, with Red Bull boss Christian Horner reportedly being a fan of the Madrid-born driver.
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Horner spoke highly of Sainz at the 2022 British Grand Prix after the Ferrari driver secured pole position, in what were tricky conditions.
“Charles [Leclerc] had what looked like a half-spin, Max [Verstappen] lifted for the yellow and I think he gave up about three or four tenths for it,” Horner said after qualifying at the 2022 British GP.
“Congratulation to Carlos [Sainz], he’s always been demon in the wet. When he was a junior for us, he was always very strong in these kind of conditions, so congrats to him and we’re just pleased to be on the front row and with Checo [Sergio Perez] up there on the second row as well.”