Red Bull has confirmed that discussions are ongoing with Carlos Sainz about a possible deal, according to the Formula 1 team’s CEO Helmut Marko. “But he has also received a very attractive offer from Audi that we cannot match,” Marko told Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung.

After this season, Sainz’s contract with Ferrari ends due to the arrival of Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes. The Spaniard, winner of this year’s Australian Grand Prix, has hinted that he would like to get clarity on his Formula 1 future as soon as possible. This week he told Sky Sports that he still does not know where he will drive next year.

In any case, Aston Martin is no longer an option, because the team has held on to Fernando Alonso for much longer. However, Red Bull has a place available with Max Verstappen for the 2025 season, as Sergio Pérez’s contract expires at the end of this year.

Sainz made his Formula 1 debut in 2015 with Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s sister team. At the time he was a teammate of Verstappen, who was promoted to Red Bull a year later. “It hurt Carlos at the time that we chose Verstappen at Red Bull and not him,” Marko noted.

Audi has yet to provide details on the driver line-up from 2026, the year Formula 1 switches to different engine management and the German manufacturer takes over as owner of Sauber.

Editorial Baaz
Door: Editorial Baaz

Editorial

Editorial Baaz

Editorial