Formula 1 team principal, Christian Horner, from Red Bull, did not rule out the possibility of Carlos Sainz returning to the team in 2025 after his victory in the Australian Grand Prix. Sainz, who is recovering from surgery, took advantage of Max Verstappen’s retirement due to a brake issue to dominate the race and secure a one-two finish for Ferrari. This victory marks Sainz’s second win in the last 25 races, with his previous triumph occurring in Singapore last September. Despite his success, Sainz does not have a confirmed seat for the next season, as Ferrari has already signed Lewis Hamilton to partner with Charles Leclerc. With Sergio Perez’s contract coming to an end, there is an available seat alongside Verstappen at Red Bull for 2025. When asked about the possibility of hiring Sainz, Horner stated that, based on his performance, no option should be ruled out, but they will take their time to make a decision. He also mentioned that Perez’s performance has been strong this season, so there is no urgent need to make a decision.
Horner also clarified that the current champions “want the best pair we can have at Red Bull Racing,” mentioning “sometimes you also need to explore outside the talent pool.”
This could involve a move for Sainz, who entered Formula 1 in 2015 through the Red Bull program and competed for the junior team until leaving at the end of 2017.
Sainz was frustrated with limited opportunities to progress to the main team, spending time at Renault and McLaren before joining Ferrari in 2021.
After showcasing his skills to potential suitors last weekend, Sainz expressed confidence that his recent performances would not harm his future career prospects.
When asked if his victory had improved his chances of securing a competitive seat, Sainz replied: “I can’t say for sure. It certainly doesn’t hurt. And that’s absolutely true.
“But yes, I still don’t have a job for next year. So, I believe this will be a significant boost. I think most people have a general idea of what I am capable of. I race for myself.
“I race to continuously prove to myself that I can win whenever I have a competitive car. And whenever there is an opportunity to win on a race weekend, I don’t race to demonstrate my worth to team bosses or other people. I race to prove to myself that if given a car, I can deliver and be at the top, you know.
“And that’s the mindset and approach I have. And I will keep it for the rest of the year,” he concluded.
Despite reaffirming earlier this month that Perez is in a privileged position to keep his seat, Horner hinted that the “market is fluid with certain drivers.”
In addition to Red Bull, Sainz has been linked as a possible replacement for Hamilton at Mercedes and as a new member of the Sauber team, which will become an Audi factory team in 2026.
