Horner Leaves Door Open for Future Red Bull Move for Sainz Amid 2025 Driver Changes
Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing’s Team Principal, has made a surprising revelation about the future of Carlos Sainz, suggesting that the Spaniard remains a potential candidate for the team in the years to come. This statement follows a series of high-profile moves and reshuffles in the Formula 1 driver market, particularly involving Sainz, who faced a challenging 2024 season.
Sainz, who had been a mainstay at Ferrari since 2021, found himself ousted from the team at the end of 2024 when Ferrari signed seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. The switch left Sainz without a seat at a top-tier team, forcing him to explore his options elsewhere. Initially linked with Red Bull, speculation about a potential move gained traction. However, the Austrian team ultimately chose to retain Sergio Perez for 2024, putting a hold on any Sainz-Red Bull partnership.
By the time the 2025 season approached, Red Bull’s driver lineup underwent another shakeup. The team announced the departure of Perez at the end of 2024 and confirmed Liam Lawson as Max Verstappen’s new teammate. Lawson’s promotion came after an impressive stint as Red Bull’s reserve driver and a handful of substitute races, cementing his place on the grid alongside the reigning champion.
Meanwhile, Sainz found a new home at Williams, signing a multi-year deal with the team. Though a step down from competing with Ferrari, the move to Williams offers Sainz an opportunity to lead a developing team and potentially drive its resurgence.
Despite this, Horner has made it clear that Red Bull remains interested in Sainz for the future. Speaking to the media, the Red Bull boss praised the Spaniard’s talent and hinted that the door remains open for a possible collaboration down the line.
“Carlos is a great driver, and while our lineup is currently set, options remain open with him in the future,” Horner remarked. “We’ve always admired his skills and determination, and Formula 1 is a dynamic environment where opportunities can present themselves unexpectedly.”
The possibility of Sainz joining Red Bull in the future would mark an interesting twist in his career. Sainz began his F1 journey in 2015 with Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri), Red Bull’s sister team, and raced alongside Verstappen before the latter was promoted to the senior team. Sainz later moved on to Renault and McLaren before his high-profile switch to Ferrari in 2021.
While Sainz is focused on his new challenge with Williams, Horner’s comments keep alive the prospect of a reunion with the Red Bull family. For now, the focus will be on how Lawson performs in his first full season alongside Verstappen and whether Williams can provide Sainz with a competitive package.
As Formula 1’s driver market continues to evolve, Sainz’s future remains a topic of interest, especially with Horner’s latest remarks suggesting that the Spaniard’s story with Red Bull might not be over just yet.
