Carlos Sainz might secure the Red Bull F1 seat he missed previously, according to reports from Italy. Although Sainz’s future with Ferrari is uncertain, as his current contract concludes in 2024 along with teammate Charles Leclerc’s, negotiations for an extension with Sainz are facing challenges. La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests a disparity in contract duration preferences, with Sainz seeking a minimum two-year extension, while Ferrari leans toward a one-year deal.
In the event of unsuccessful negotiations, the Italian publication speculates that Sainz could replace Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen’s teammate in 2025. Perez, under scrutiny for his 2023 season performance, has a valid contract only for the next season.
The report proposes that Sainz, a product of Red Bull’s junior program who was previously passed over for promotion at Toro Rosso, might be a prominent candidate for Red Bull in 2025. Despite being linked to Audi’s F1 project, Sainz has consistently expressed his desire to continue as a Ferrari driver.
If these reports materialize, Sainz could compete against Daniel Ricciardo from AlphaTauri and Lando Norris from McLaren for the opportunity to be Verstappen’s next teammate.