At the moment Carlos Sainz seems torn between Audi and Red Bull: the future of the current Ferrari driver for now, and barring any twists and turns, is at a crossroads between two ovens, but one apparently stands out for an attractive offer. In all this the role of the stone guest must be underlined Sergio Perez, whose possible reconfirmation or otherwise in the team would open up important scenarios for the Spaniard. Which, however, is courted by the house of the Four Rings with figures that, according to Red Bull, are difficult to counter.
Horner: “Red Bull will compete with Carlos Sainz. We don’t know Audi’s offer”
While teams and drivers are busy in Shanghai for the return of the Chinese GP to the calendar, the market and the moves in view of the next seasons obviously take center stage from the paddock. Pressed by journalists on the subject, the Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has explained: “Carlos Sainz is an important player in the transfer market and we certainly need to talk to him. Audi’s offer? We don’t know her.”
This last sentence he disavows what was said by the Briton’s now nemesis, namely Helmut Markowhich he explicitly stated to the newspaper this week Kleine Zeitung like Audi had made a “very profitable” economic proposal to Sainz that we can neither match nor beat..
Sainz’s future between Audi, Red Bull and Mercedes
The German brand will enter F1 from 2026 after having acquired 100% control over Sauber, and probably intends to focus on Sainz after having bet on the illustrious father, present in the dream team that has been competing in the Dakar for a few years with the RS Q and -tron, the first vehicle to participate in this legendary rally raid equipped with an electric powertrain and range extender. And if it’s true that at the window there is also Mercedeswith Toto Wolff also paying attention the protégé Andrea Kimi Antonelli, it is also true that Red Bull could also focus on Sainz (and maybe Marko’s words would sound like a bluff, which is very likely) in the event of Perez’s non-renewal.
Horner: “There’s no reason to replace Perez if he continues like this”
But for now Horner keeps his cards covered by defending his current driver, Max Verstappen’s teammate. As reported Brandthe team principal said: “Sainz would take the place of Checo who however started the season very well. And if it continues like this, with this remarkable performance, we will have no reason to replace it. However, we appreciate Sainz’s great talent and the fact that he is a product of the Red Bull family’s nursery. For our part – concluded Horner – we are in no hurry to consider all the options”.
Perez himself recently admitted that his future will be revealed in the coming weeks. But for his boss the times are longer, also pointing out that he expects confirmation of the very good performances that the Mexican demonstrated at the start of the season. Perez’s contract, we remember, will expire at the end of this season.
