Christian Horner has confirmed he is not making a late move for Carlos Sainz to join Red Bull next season, amid ongoing reports over the future of Sergio Perez.
Sainz has
signed an extended multi-year deal to join Williams from 2025, but with Red
Bull team principal Horner having been spotted leaving the Williams motorhome
at Interlagos, reports emerged that he was negotiating over a potential release
for youngster Franco Colapinto – or even next season’s signing, Sainz.
Christian Horner confirms Carlos Sainz not ‘part of our
plans’ at Red Bull in F1 2025
PlanetF1.com understands the talks undertaken by Horner
in Brazil would be over a potential move for Colapinto to join the Red Bull
ranks next season, with the young Argentine having impressed since he replaced
Logan Sargeant after the summer break.
Williams team principal James
Vowles joked that the Red Bull boss visited to sample a cup of coffee
from the team’s new sponsor, but with Sainz arriving at Williams next season
and Alex Albon already under contract, this leaves Colapinto without a race
seat for 2025 as it stands.
Having spoken highly of the Argentine’s talent at recent
races, Horner has now confirmed former Toro Rosso driver Sainz is not being
considered as a Red Bull driver for 2025, given his prior commitment to
Williams.
“I mean, there’s always plenty of speculation in the Formula
1 paddock,” Horner said in an interview with talkSPORT when
asked if he is looking at Sainz.
“Carlos Sainz is going to be a Williams driver next year.
He’s a great driver, had a big win in Mexico recently, and I think he’ll be
very good for that team.”
When pressed on whether or not Red Bull are considering
making a move for the current Ferrari driver, despite his commitment to join
Williams next year, Horner clarified: “No, Carlos is committed to Williams, and
he wouldn’t form part of our plans for next year.”
Sainz will leave Ferrari at the end of the season having
earned four race victories with the Scuderia to date, and following
negotiations with the majority of teams on the grid, Williams was his ultimate
destination – Vowles having revealed his first conversation with Sainz and his
camp came even before it was announced Lewis Hamilton would be making the move
across to Ferrari.
