Red Bull confirms contact with Ferrari driver: “Yes we are talking to Sainz, but he has a tough offer from Audi”

Carlos Sainz is having his best season in Formula 1 at Ferrari and is still out of contract until 2025, when Lewis Hamilton will drive for Ferrari. The Brit’s arrival ensures that the sought-after Spaniard is circling the market.

Apparently there is also a connection with Red Bull, where Checo Pérez’s contract expires after this season as the second driver next to Max Verstappen.

“Yes, we are in talks with Carlos Sainz,” Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko revealed. A small newspaper. “He is having his best season in Formula 1, but he has a strong offer from Audi and we cannot match or exceed that.”

In addition, there is a history between Sainz and Red Bull. The Spaniard previously drove for the second team of energy drink producer Toro Rosso, but did not leave on the best of terms.

“We know him from his time at Toro Rosso,” said the Austrian. “When he drove next to Max, it hurt him that at Red Bull we chose Verstappen and not him.”

Putting pressure on Checo Pérez?

The question is whether Helmut Marko did not leak information about the conversation with Sainz specifically to put pressure on Checo Pérez and keep him in line. Red Bull does not want to decide until the middle of this season if it will continue with Mexico.

The uncertainty about his future seems to be pushing Checo Pérez in the right direction. He is doing better and picking up speed. Marko indicated to Motorsport.com that if Pérez continues like this, he is the best choice for the seat next to Verstappen.

“It is clear that Checo is having his best season. If he continues with his current performance – including qualifying in Japan – then he is definitely the best candidate for Red Bull in 2025,” said Marko. “He is a team player and now he has realized that he no longer has to choose his own path and make adjustments . Last year he kept choosing settings that were wrong. Now he stays close to Max and that helps him.”