Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has indicated why the team did not consider hiring Carlos Sainz Jnr to replace the struggling Sergio Perez.
Sainz was previously a member of Red Bull’s junior academy and made his F1 debut alongside Max Verstappen at their second team, known at the time as Toro Rosso in 2015. However after Verstappen was promoted to Red Bull, Sainz never had the opportunity to join him and later joined a succession of the team’s rivals.Before this season began Sainz learned he would lose his Ferrari seat for 2025. Perez struggled for much of this season but Red Bull only confirmed today, 10 days after the championship’s conclusion, that he will not drive for them next year.
The announcement came despite Red Bull handing Perez a two-year contract extension, which they made public in June. Horner indicated the decision was taken earlier, which ruled out the possibility of picking Sainz as Perez’s replacement.
“I think Carlos is a great driver and we’ve seen that obviously this year at some times,” he told Sky. “You’ve got to look at all the various criteria and dynamics.
“At the point that we extended Checo’s contract you have to remember that he was second in the world championship and finishing on the podium in the first four out of five races.”
Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko claimed earlier this year Verstappen and Sainz had a poor relationship during their time at Toro Rosso. “The atmosphere between the two at Toro Rosso was quite toxic,” he said.
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Horner said Perez took the decision to leave the team but suggested he intends it to be temporary.
“At the time we signed [the deal] he’d had four podiums in five races so it was a logical extension just to remove speculation of which there was already too much around the team,” said Horner.
“Of course, any contract has certain performance clauses and criteria within it so it didn’t make any difference to this decision of Sergio’s to step away and take a sabbatical.”
He confirmed RB duo Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda are the two drivers under consideration to partner Verstappen next year.
“We have all of the information that we need,” he said. “Essentially, it’ll be a choice between Yuki and Liam.
“Both have got strong credentials. We tested Yuki recently at the tyre test in Abu Dhabi for a chance for him to work with the engineering team. Liam has done a lot of testing with us behind the scenes this year as well and has driven very well in the six or seven races that he’s had.
“So we have all the information, we’re just looking at it and considering all of that, speaking with the engineering team as well. And we’ll come to a conclusion in the coming days.”
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Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
18th December 2024, 21:47
Surely they would be after a driver who can make a full contribution to the toxic atmosphere within that team.
Look at Horner’s insistence that it was Perez’s own initiative to take a break.
I believe Mika Hakkinen and Nigel Mansell are still on sabbatical from F1.
MacLeod (@macleod)
19th December 2024, 7:41
It’s more their support teams of the drivers which was toxic.. Both drivers have normal contact with each other.
Mika i would see as second driver Nigel isn’t in shape enough to do that :) in the 90s this was no problem but now you need to be very good shape.
RedEaredRabbit (@redearedrabbit)
18th December 2024, 21:58
Carlos would be too competitive for Red Bull. They are looking for someone to play second fiddle to Max and Carlos would be too quick. Probably wouldn’t beat Max over a season but would definitely take points off him. Tsunoda deserves a shot.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
20th December 2024, 21:12
A driver to not take points off verstappen across a 24 race season + the sprints needs to be pretty bad! Not sure how much an upgrade on perez we’re talking then.
Ambrogio Isgro
21st December 2024, 21:45
They need a drive that can be close enough to Max, that doesn’t go out in Q1, that Is more consistent through the entire season and that is not the 8th while the other is 1st.
Simple as that.
David BR (@david-br)
18th December 2024, 22:25
‘He was almost on par with Max in Toro Rosso’ + ‘The atmosphere between the two at Toro Rosso was quite toxic’
Chicken or egg?
Red Bull are looking for a driver not ever likely to be almost ‘on par’ with Max, presumably. So no Sainz.
Edvaldo
18th December 2024, 22:25
If Max just the other day said that “it doesn’t make sense” to let the two drivers race, why would they hire another quality driver for the seat?
They don’t want that headache. Let him win everything and the other guy can collect some podiums and the few odd races, plus make some millions. For drivers who wouldn’t even be there in any other way, an opportunity too good to be true.
Mooa42
18th December 2024, 22:55
I do wonder how many times Perez’s Sunday’s were purely testing sessions for upgrades or tweaks for Max. When Max wasn’t winning I expect RedBull threw everything at making sure he stayed on top of the drivers championship, so it would not surprise me one bit if Perez was just a test mule for half the season.
George (@george)
18th December 2024, 23:39
Perez’s major issue was in qualifying rather than races though. I’d guess his relative race pace compared to Verstappen stayed pretty consistent (~.5 per lap off generally), he was just starting so much further down and the car wasn’t as fast so it was more of a struggle to make up places.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
19th December 2024, 16:30
Perez said as much in one of the last few races. He all but said it outloud, but its clear hes been testing for Max, and it’s clear he’s always been done as a competitor ever since the verstappen clan lost their minds and complained about Perez’s extra marital affairs. It’s clear that family is ‘toxic’ inside that team, the real question is, who or what is allowing that kind of toxicity to stew in that garage/team. Like was that some sort of a way to start breaking down team cohesion or something from the dudes in Austria ?
Im not a fan of everything Horner is doing, but honestly I think there are some really horrible ‘monied’ interests trying to sabotage that team. If I were Horner I would be looking for Max’s replacement. You can’t let your drivers become bigger than the team. Period.
osnola
19th December 2024, 19:53
if you were @pcxmac you would be looking for max’s replacement ;)
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
20th December 2024, 21:28
He is already!
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
27th December 2024, 19:00
all they would have had to do is get Carlos, and build their car around him. Job done. Then Max can go on to Merc, they can doddle around like Ferrari w/ Vettel, and then 4 years later, after Max has left, Kimi can become the next thing.
MarkWebber (@markwebber)
18th December 2024, 22:57
I suspect Sainz turned down the offer, I can’t think of any other logical explanation. They know Max can’t win the constructors’ championship on his own.
SGracing
19th December 2024, 6:23
I’ve heard Carlos was angry at Max because he felt he was regarded as the second choice when they drove together not giving Carlos a real chance to compete, and stating Max doesn’t deserve any special treatment. When Max found out what he was saying behind his back, it started a downward spiral of respect between the two of them. Helmet stated their relationship was toxic, makes me wonder how true the comment(which I didn’t believe at the time) I heard really was
Antz (@antznz)
19th December 2024, 6:44
I remember hearing at the Australian GP that the deal with Perez was done with only small print being resolved. Sergio did start the season solidly, easily well enough for Red Bull to win both titles. By the time it was really obvious he was done, I expect sponsorship and commercial agreements made it virtually impossible to sign a replacement in season. Too risky for Sainz to still be unsigned today. Would have been an insanely good driver pairing.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
20th December 2024, 21:31
With the money red bull have, if they really wanted sainz they could’ve broken the williams contract, however it’s also possible that sainz was afraid to end like perez at red bull, and it’s also possible red bull indeed considered their relationship toxic.
Tommy Scragend
19th December 2024, 9:38
He probably can’t in 2025, but he did in 2023.
Verstappen 575 points
Mercedes (2nd in constructors) 409 points
satellite
20th December 2024, 11:58
This doesn’t take into account points taken by Perez that would have went to Mercedes if Perez was not racing.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
20th December 2024, 21:33
The margin is likely enough even with that, but still required a very dominant car and a super season by verstappen to accomplish that.
Harvs64
18th December 2024, 23:42
I do not think that Sainz is the toxic component. He had no issue with Lando at Mclaren, no issue with Leclerc at Ferrari, No issue with Hulkenburg at Renault.
I’m not going to suggest Max is toxic, nah uh.
MacLeod (@macleod)
19th December 2024, 7:43
it was more the guys behind the drivers …
Patrick (@anunaki)
19th December 2024, 7:45
It is well known that both fathers were contributing a lot to the toxicity at Toro Rosso.
Tiberius Gracchus
19th December 2024, 21:29
I had not heard that Sainz’s father was as “involved ” in his son’s career as MV’s. Interesting, both racecar drivers with sons who are racecar drivers.
Only thing that I can get from what I read about Carlos is he doesn’t want to be number 2. That’s why RB does not want him. They don’t want trouble with Max, they have got enough already.
uzsjgb (@uzsjgb)
19th December 2024, 0:14
So many posts that state Verstappen is at the level of Sainz. Is this the hate speaking or do these people seriously believe this? And they also seem to believe that Ferrari was somehow incapable of seeing Sainz’ qualities and also that Red Bull do not think very highly of Verstappen, if they see Sainz as a danger to him. This sounds so absurd I think I have answered my own question, it really is the hate speaking.
Edvaldo
19th December 2024, 1:33
That’s what YOU are reading from the posts, there is not a single one stating that.
Because the simple thought of someone being remotely on par with your God is an insult to him, in your eyes.
We’re talking about letting the guys race and securing the best available option for the other car. Lawson is likely to be their choice and he started in 11 Grand Prix only. And before him, they had a deal with Perez for 2 years, they same Perez they just fired because he didn’t improve as they expected. Do you think these are the best options? C’mon. Grow up.
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
19th December 2024, 9:11
I agree.
Bmac
19th December 2024, 6:05
Sainz and Verstappen were insanely closely matched as teammates. That’s just the reality of it.
Doesn’t mean it would automatically be the same now, of course.
DaveW (@dmw)
19th December 2024, 1:34
I feel like Horner is trying not to say the obvious. If you’ve been out earning a pay check for a while you know that super toxic people destroy an organization, unless and only unless they just get their way completely. Sainz has to know more than anyone else he’ll never win a title at RBR. It’s simply impossible. So why go there. Mercedes wants their boy wonder so better to go with the team with potential than a perennial midfielder like Haas. Get a couple podiums and maybe go back to Ferrari in two years. I get his choice. It’s unfortunate and has to be gutting for a man of his talents.
MG1982 (@mg1982)
19th December 2024, 9:22
Nothing is impossible, but I find it hard to believe SAI refused an RBR offer, even harder to believe just because he’ll never win a title at RBR. I think SAI is pretty down to earth, and since he’s been already for some time in F1 and with multiple teams too, big chances he realizes now he’s not 100% a top driver, even just 1-WDC material, and the chances of becoming WDC are quite small no matter what. We’ve seen at his tenure at Ferrari that once he was in the position of winning a race and with LEC behind him, he did not listen to the team anymore, even breaking pre-race arrangements. So, in my opinion he was kinda “desperate” to collect anything within reach to improve his palmares in F1. These being said, I don’t quite believe he passed the offer to have a very good car + competent team that meant big chances to improve his palmares, instead choosing to go to… Williams. I’ll go with the version that RBR is simply not interested, not wanting him on purpose etc.
Avro Anson (@avroanson)
19th December 2024, 10:34
Thanks – I’ve learned a new word.
Dane
19th December 2024, 1:38
Horner is making excuses, but if they really wanted Sainz they could’ve had him. The fact they are considering Yuki or the inexperienced Lawson over him goes to show how unserious Red Bull is about winning the Constructor’s title next year.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
27th December 2024, 19:05
you would be surprised how many rich fill in the blanks ‘dudes’ behind the scenes want to become ‘king makers’ in different entertainment venues, like hollywood, or sports-entertainment. It’s kind of like vicarious meets controlling meets unhealthy obsession. So its no surprise a guy like Horner, has very little say, in what the son of a dead guy has to say, over at Austria-land. And it’s no surprise an org like Porsche and the Austrians wanted him out in order to ‘rig’ the scene, for the up and coming 2026 regulation changes.
Rumor has it Porsche will go to Williams, would be pretty awesome if that happens, could be a really old rumor though.
DaveW (@dmw)
19th December 2024, 1:46
I’m perplexed by Tsunoda’s position. He’s quicker than the last two heirs apparent for RBR but he’s passed over continually. He’s in this weird spot of being fast enough to keep on the roster but too toxic or technically deficient to be promoted or to be hired by another top team. It seems an unstable spot to be in for so long.
Bmac
19th December 2024, 6:07
I get the sense it’s stubbornness from Red Bull.
He isn’t a product of Red Bull, he’s a Honda driver and they never wanted him – the fact he’s proven himself, just annoys them. He’s never likely to be given a fair crack of the whip at a Red Bull seat.
Honda had to apply pressure to get him in the car for this test.
grat
19th December 2024, 6:24
I don’t think Tsunoda has a future at Red Bull without Honda engines.
Antz (@antznz)
19th December 2024, 6:46
Sadly this seems to be true. There are clearly private opinions getting in the way and I would love to know what they are..
Jere (@jerejj)
19th December 2024, 6:51
grat Indeed unless he stops his Honda affiliation altogether, which is unlikely, considering how important the manufacturer has been to his single seater career.
MacLeod (@macleod)
19th December 2024, 7:48
Logical is select Yuki for 1 year and let Lawson ripe for 1 year. Honda is here Yuki’s problem to have him in Red Bull but I would use him for 1 year while searching for new talent for 2026.
Also who is taken for the second position of RBcarb ?
Leeroy
19th December 2024, 8:22
I think Lawson was similiar pace to Yuki, with less time in F1 Lawson has more upside. Yuki should be destroying a new-comer like Lawson. He did not.
I think Lawson goes up to RedBull and Hadjar comes into RB Carb with Yuki.
SteveP
19th December 2024, 9:56
Horner does not like him. End.
Michael Quinn
19th December 2024, 6:46
I think Marko is the toxic component at Red Bull at the moment. Seems to rule the team with his opinions – even if it’s about drivers he championed into positions just 6-12 months ago.
Red Bull would be better off without his interferance.
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
19th December 2024, 9:14
Lawson is going to RBR. Just been announced.
SteveP
19th December 2024, 10:01
Well, yeah.
Given a choice between the RBR chef, or Tsunoda, I’d say Horner would be odds on to choose the chef.
SteveP
19th December 2024, 10:02
Not that Lawson is bad, just that Tsunoda doesn’t feature as far as Horner is concerned.
Marcus (@marcusw)
20th December 2024, 11:33
“…this decision of Sergio’s to step away and take a sabbatical.”
Horner showing again what a disingenuous man he is. Suggesting Sergio’s departure is by his own decision is clearly nonsense. Just trying to shift blame elsewhere once again. Sorry Christian, everyone sees you for who you really are.